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TOURISM SPECIAL EVENTS 29
Gallery Exhibits at the Center
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Tues-Sat) Ages: All Cost: Free Location: Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Witness the unique and creative ways visual artists respond to exhibitions in the Suffolk Center’s amazing art galleries, with an ever-changing array of local and regional art exhibitions. The historic BB&T and Norfolk Foundation galleries feature beautiful natural light, 14-foot ceilings, and flank the Birdsong Theater.
Shine!
On View: January 12 - February 9 This exhibit highlights the work completed by students and instructors in the variety of art classes that are offered throughout the year. Come and witness the excellent work produced by these individuals.
Sister Cities International Exhibition: Peace by Piece: Food Security In My Community
On View: February 23 - March 30 Each year, Sister Cities International selects a theme for area school students to use as the basis for their creative talents, whether it be paintings, drawings, sculptures, poetry, short stories, or longer essays. Helping to foster a sense of global citizenship and goodwill for young students, winners from this juried exhibit will go on to compete with students in the U.S.
Walk On The Wild Side: The Great Dismal Swamp
On View: April 13 - May 2 This popular exhibit never disappoints! Invited artists submit decoy and other animal carvings, sculptures, photographs, paintings, and drawings that highlight the beauty of Mother Nature’s work. Visitors to the exhibition will be awed by the creativity of the artists as they capture the unique wonders found in and around the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Riddick’s Folly House Museum
Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Wed, Thurs, & Fri); 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Saturday); and 1:00 - 5:00 PM (Sun). Closed on major holidays. Cost: $7 Adults; $6 military and seniors 55+; $3 students 18 and under; free for children 5 and under; $4 for partial tours Location: 510 N. Main Street, Downtown For more information, please contact 757-934-0822 or visit RiddicksFolly.org. While Mills Riddick’s contemporaries may have mocked his Greek Revival home when it was built in 1837, the house now stands as a beautiful reminder of the past and is one of Suffolk’s most popular attractions. The impressive structure features striking architectural details. The five frieze band windows across the front of the house are rarely seen in eastern Virginia. The front of the mansion is bricked in Flemish bond, and double chimneys rise from both ends of the stately historic landmark. Slender columns of the Greek Revival period frame the main entrance. The interior showcases intricately carved moldings and elaborate ceiling medallions throughout the house. Riddick’s Folly has four floors, 21 rooms, and 16 fireplaces. All four floors are open to the public. The building features elegantly furnished double parlors, a gentleman’s library, and adult and children’s bed chambers. Also open are the laundry, dining rooms, and kitchen. Registered with the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission and the National Register of Historic Places. During the Civil War, Riddick’s Folly served as headquarters for the Union Army.
Suffolk Tour Program
Suffolk Tourism offers a variety of guided tours, with something for history buffs, nature lovers, adventurers, and even for those folks who are seeking the “supernatural’ side of Suffolk. Suffolk Tourism tours depart from the Suffolk Visitor Center (unless otherwise noted). Reservations are required. Custom group tours are available and may require a partial deposit. To reserve your space, please contact the Suffolk Visitor Center.
Cedar Hill Cemetery Guided Stroll
Departs at 4:00 PM; please arrive by 3:45 PM.
Departs from Train Station at 11:00 AM; please arrive by 10:45 AM.
Please check the website for departure time. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early. Departs from Cedar Hill Cemetery gate adjacent to Train Station parking lot.
Departs from Nansemond Brewing Station (212 E. Washington Street). Plan to arrive 15 minutes early.
Historic Suffolk Narrated Bus Tour
Bus boards at 1:45 PM and departs at 2:00 PM.
Legends of Main Street: A Suffolk Ghost Walk
Please check the website for departure time. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early.
Kayak Excursions
Bus boards at 9:15 AM (transportation for the Nansemond River at Constant’s Wharf and Bennett’s Creek Excursions are not available. Participants must meet on site for these particular tours.)
Great Dismal “Swamp Safari”
Bus boards at 9:15 AM and departs at 9:30 AM.
Great Dismal Guided Nature Walk
Meet at Washington Ditch (3100 Desert Road).
Cedar Hill Cemetery Guided Stroll
Dates: Check website Time: 4:00 - 5:30 PM Ages: 8+ Cost: $7 adults; $5 seniors (60+), military, and children. Not recommended for children under 12. Enjoy a 60-minute stroll of Cedar Hill Cemetery’s 32 acres of hilly terrain and ancient cedar trees. Home to one of Suffolk’s official Virginia Civil War Trail sites. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire recommended.
Dates: Check website Time: 11:00 AM Ages: 8+ Cost: $7 adults; $5 seniors (60+), military, and children. Not recommended for children under 12. This 60-minute walking tour highlights and honors the graves and memorials of soldiers from Suffolk and old Nansemond County who died in combat during the two World Wars, Korean War, and Vietnam War. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire recommended.
Dates: Check website Time: Check website Ages: All Cost: $7 adults; $5 seniors (60+), military, and children This 75-minute walking tour explores the hidden meanings buried in Suffolk’s Historic Cedar Hill Cemetery. The tour features Victorian-era symbolism, burial practices, funerary industries, and mourning rituals. Highlights include how the residents of Suffolk both lived and died in the 19th century. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire recommended.
Dates: Check website Time: Check website Ages: All Cost: $10 adults; $8 seniors (60+) and military; $5 children age 12 and under. Downtown Suffolk contains a multitude of antique buildings, new businesses, old stories, and fresh food! This tour explores the streets of downtown Suffolk’s historic district, complete with revived century-old mansions, re-purposed schools and warehouses, forgotten architectural gems, and a glimpse into future developments. Tour departs from Nansemond Brewing Station at 212 E. Washington Street.
Historic Suffolk Narrated Bus Tour
Dates: Check website Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM Ages: 8+ Cost: $8 adults; $6 seniors (60+) and military; $5 children (ages 8-12). Trace Suffolk’s legacy through our historic homes and neighborhoods, churches, and Virginia Civil War Trails. This windshield tour highlights include Cedar Hill Cemetery, Constant’s Wharf, Riddick’s Folly House Museum, and the historic Lakeside neighborhood.
Kayak Excursions: Various Locations
Dates: Check website Time: 10:00 AM Ages: 10+ Cost: $40 per person; equipment included. Guided kayak excursions of the Nansemond River at Constant’s Wharf, Lone Star Lakes, Bennett’s Creek, and Lake Drummond are facilitated by a water adventures outfitter with years of experience. All equipment is included with registration fee. Sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable attire, and snack and/or bottled water recommended. 250 lb. weight limit. Participants must be 10 years of age or older; ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
Legends of Main Street: A Suffolk Ghost Walk
Dates: Check website Time: Check website Ages: All Cost: $10 adults; $8 seniors (60+), military, and children. Not recommended for children under 9. Follow a costumed guide through the shadows of historic Main Street, discovering stories, legends, and “unexplained occurrences” by lantern light.
