Events

What better way to celebrate your culinary traditions than with special events - most of which are centered around food? Peanut Fest, Bacon, Bourbon & Beach Music Fest or a guided ghost tour of Suffolk's beautiful historic downtown - there's always something happening along the Salty Southern Route.

CITY OF FRANKLIN & SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY

Down Home Day - Southampton County

Held a Saturday in April at the Southampton Heritage Village/Agricultural & Forestry Museum, 26135 Heritage Lane in Courtland
Down Home Day is a family day full of heritage activities for everyone. Check out the petting zoo and sheep shearing or watch logs being sawn on a 1928 sawmill. Take a peek at corn being ground into fresh cornmeal on a replica grist mill. Taste a fresh cornbread patty or purchase your own cornmeal. Local printers will demonstrate the 1880s printing press. Visitors will get to take home a souvenir bookmark made on the press that day. All activities except food included in admission price.
For further information call 757.375.2523

Heritage Day - Southampton County

Held in early September at the Southampton Heritage Village/Agricultural & Forestry Museum, 26135 Heritage Lane in Courtland
Visit during Heritage Day to see Heritage Crafters making butter, hominy, molasses, cracklin's, soap and baskets. Watch an 1880s printing press, 1920s sawmill and a corn gristmill in action. Story-telling will take place in an old 1-room school house. Watch blacksmithing and pottery-making demonstrations. Visit the petting zoo and take a peek at miniature horses as well as antique cars, tractors and small engines, which will all be on display. Live music will be provided. Join us for a family fun hayride or shop for hand made arts & crafts. The Rebecca Vaughan House will be open with a display of local historical items. All activities except food included in admission price. For further information call 757.375.2523

Franklin's Market on Main- Southampton County

Held every Wednesday, May through September from 4:00pm until 7:00pm, and every Saturday, May through September from 9:00am-1:00pm.
Franklin's Market on Main provides the local and surrounding communities with access to locally grown fruits and vegetables along with specialty items such as honey, jams, homemade soaps, locally raised meats and eggs, and much more.

Courtland Farmer's Market and Produce Auction - Southampton County

Held every Thursday, June through October starting at 6:30pm.
Stop in and pick up produce fresh off the family farm. This produce auction is directed to wholesale buyers but anyone is welcome to attend. The Cortland Farmers Market features small lots, so come and bid before the fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers are gone!

SMITHFIELD & ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY

The Isle of Wight County Fair

Held the second week of September, Thursday through Sunday, at Heritage Park, 21311 Courthouse Highway, Windsor
Come on out and join the fun. Catch a show, watch a tractor pull, enter the talent show, or enjoy the sights from the top of the giant ferris wheel. We know you will agree it is the best way to spend the last four days of your summer!

Smithfield & Isle of Wight County's Restaurant Week

Held the last weekend of January through the first weekend of February at participating restaurants
Participating restaurants offer a reduced price lunch and dinner menu which include an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Participating shops offer a special Restaurant Week discount on select items. Sixteen participating restaurants and shops in 2017!

Smithfield Farmers Market

Held every Saturday, April through October from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon in the Bank of Southside Virginia parking lot, 115 Main Street in downtown Smithfield
Named one of the "101 Best Farmers Markets in America" by TheDailyMeal.com, the Farmers Market is located in the parking lot of the Bank of Southside Virginia and offers tasty foods, baked goods, lovely gift items & of course, plenty of fresh produce and LIVE MUSIC every week! For further information call 757.357.5182.

Smithfield Hog Jog

Held the second Saturday in October at Smithfield Foods Corporate HQ parking lot, 200 Commerce Street in downtown Smithfield
This charity 5K run/walk follows a challenging course through downtown historic Smithfield and its beautiful Virginia countryside. Proceeds from this family and community focused event benefit the Christian Outreach Program. To date, the Hog Jog has raised over $184,000.

Smithfield VA Event's Bacon, Bourbon & Beach Music Fest

Held the first Saturday of October at Windsor Castle Park, 301 Jericho Road in downtown Smithfield
This "can't miss" event offers tastings of small batch, hard-to-find and specialty bourbons, as well as tastings from the hottest craft breweries around. Each ticket holder gets 1/2 lb. of bacon hot off the grill to take to the condiment tent to dress it up. Live music will be featured on three stages. This is a 21 and older, ticketed event which sells out within minutes for online purchases. General Admission Tickets & Non-Sponsor tables will go on sale July 26 and 27.

SUFFOLK

Suffolk Farmers' Market

Saturday mornings, May through November at the Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion, 524 N Main Street in downtown Suffolk
The Suffolk Farmers' Market is a popular outlet for locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, organically raised poultry, fresh eggs and milk, honey and a variety of artisan-crafted goods. Free and open to the public, the Market will host a variety of Family Fun Days, special guest speakers and performers, petting zoos, book signings, workshops, crafts and more.
The Suffolk Farmers' Market is founded on the concept of preserving the City's agricultural heritage through wholesome family activities. Our mission is to support local family farms and artisans by creating a place of connectivity between producers and consumers. Market participation is open to regional producers within a 100-mile radius of Suffolk.

Taste of Suffolk Downtown Street Festival

Held the first Saturday in Septemberon Main Street and Washington Street in downtown Suffolk
Taste of Suffolk is back in Downtown Suffolk for the 12th year! This annual street festival will span Main Street from Finney Avenue to Washington Street and along Washington Street from Commerce Street to Saratoga Street. Enjoy specialty food items from Suffolk's independent eateries, arts and crafts, vendors and merchants. Taste of Suffolk has something for the whole family with our expanded children's area and live entertainment. Enjoy contests and games, a beer garden, and a new vehicle exhibition. Free and open to the public.

Suffolk Peanut Fest Parade

Held the last Saturday in September in downtown Suffolk
Kick off the Annual Suffolk Peanut Fest with a festive parade through downtown historic Suffolk. The parade stages in the Lakeside neighborhood and proceeds down Washington Street, turning left onto North Main Street and concludes at Finney Avenue. Sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power. Free and open to the public.

Suffolk Peanut Fest Queen's Banquet

Held in late September at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront
Today's Peanut Festival queen is selected from among rising high school seniors that are evaluated by a panel based on four criteria: a creative writing essay; school activities; awards and achievements; and community involvement. The Queen and her Court will be recognized at a Banquet produced by the Pilot Club of Suffolk. General Seating only. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Ticket outlets include: The Suffolk Visitor Center and Bennett's Creek Pharmacy.

Suffolk Peanut Fest

Held the first weekend in October, Thursday through Sunday at the Suffolk Executive Airport
This year marks the 41st Anniversary of Suffolk, Virginia's premier festival. This family-friendly event honors the city's agriculture heritage and devotion to peanuts, our favorite legumes. Known for its fun family activities, Suffolk Peanut Fest offers concerts, amusement rides, contests and competitions, a demolition derby, motorcycle rally, shrimp feast, fireworks and much more. Combine all of these great activities with local and national entertainment and you have a weekend full of good times! SuffolkPeanutFest.com

Driver Days Fall Festival

Held the third weekend of October in Driver Village (King's Highway)
Two days of free family fun, including: Entertainment, Parade, Strongwill 1 Mile & 5K Run, Crafters & Food Vendors, Cornhole Tournament, Car Show, Sherri Parker Memorial Poker Run & Bike Show, Pony & Train Rides, Children's Amusement Area, Knocker Ball, Pet Costume Contest, and a Free Rock Painting Tent! Free parking is available at Titan Contractors on Nansemond Parkway. Sponsored by Driver Merchant Association, Driver Volunteer Dept. and American Legion Post #88. Free and open to the public.October 20, 2018 - October 21, 2018

SURRY COUNTY

Surry Farmers Market - Surry

Held every Saturday from May through October on the Courthouse Lawn in the town of Surry
The Surry Farmers Market showcases locally grown produce, meat, dairy, and specialty products. The market is located in the heart of downtown Surry and within walking distance to other small shopping venues.

Pork, Peanut & Pine Festival - Surry