CALENDAR OF EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Listed below are just a sampling of the events that Suffolk Public Libraries, Tourism, and Parks & Recreation put on for our community. You’ll find something for everyone! Join us for outdoor events, holiday celebrations, and youth activities. Discover more information by navigating to each Department’s section in the Program Guide. PARKS & RECREATION LIBRARY TOURISM

SEPTEMBER 8 - 30 - Taste of Suffolk To-Go 19 - Van Gogh Paint Party at the Suffolk Visitor Center 26 - American Girl Program featuring Kirsten Larson

OCTOBER 06 - National Night Out (see below) 16 - Friday Night Frights: Carrie 16 - Open Your Eyes 17 - Drive-In Movie - Bennett’s Creek Park: Hocus Pocus 23 - Friday Night Frights: Psycho 24 - Dec. 4 - Suffolk Art League’s Annual Juried Exhibition 24 - Drive-In Movie - Godwin Courts Parking Lot: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 30 - Friday Night Frights: Halloween 30 - Della Mae & Dempsey NOVEMBER 07 - Virtual Home of the Brave 5k|10k 20 - Downstairs at the Center: Jim Newsom & The Cloudless Sky 21 - American Girl Program featuring Joss Kendrick 28 - {Re} Stored Pop-Up Event

DECEMBER

06 - Meet Santa at the Seaboard Station Railroad Museum 12 - Meet Santa at the Suffolk Visitor Center 12 - Movies at the Center: Frozen II 13 - Meet Santa at the Suffolk Visitor Center

The National Association of Town Watch (NATW), founder of National Night Out, advised earlier this summer that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they strongly recommended that all National Night Out 2020 areas celebrate on October 6, 2020, instead of this year’s previously scheduled date of August 4, 2020. The City of Suffolk had originally planned to celebrate this year’s rescheduled National Night Out on October 6th together at a large, outdoor combined community concert event instead of our usual individual community celebrations since we’ve been apart for so long. Unfortunately, due to Commonwealth of Virginia Governor’s Executive Order 67 limiting large events and directing individuals to social distance when not at home and to take all necessary precautions in response to COVID-19, this event has also been cancelled. Suffolk has proudly ranked first in the nation in our population category in our celebrations in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2016, and 2018, and we’ve been in the top five in the nation for 14 straight years due to involved, caring citizens. To mark what we’re calling this year’s “National Night In”, we’ve compiled a video including snippets of our NNO celebrations from years past which is available to view on the NNO website at www.SuffolkNNO.com. Just as our chosen theme for NNO 2020 stated, we can still CREATE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, even if we can’t do so together at this time! Mark your calendars now for NNO 2021 on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Take the following out of the text box and include as a separate colored text box: As we are all aware, there remains much uncertainty regarding the continuing threat of COVID-19, and the fall and winter months are a special concern due to the regular flu season and potential complications because of the Novel Coronavirus. The health and safety of employees and citizens is now and always has been our highest priority, and staff continue to follow all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Virginia Department of Health (VDH), in addition to Executive Orders from Governor Ralph Northam and other guidance. Special events, particularly those where the potential for large crowds combined with issues regarding recommended social distancing, require careful consideration, and determinations are made utilizing the most current health and safety precautions and guidelines available. While the activities featured in this Special Events Calendar are currently limited due to COVID-19, please understand that these are subject to change or cancellation. It is recommended that you reach out directly to the sponsoring Department for the latest information prior to making plans to attend.