20 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021
PEANUT FEST
Demolition derby returns to Peanut Fest BY JIMMY LAROUE STAFF WRITER
It’s like night and day, literally, for the demolition derby’s return to Peanut Fest. When the event was last held in 2019, it took place on a Friday night in a standing-room-only packed arena. This year, the event has been moved to a daytime Saturday slot Oct. 9 to accommodate the Suffolk Ruritan Club’s Shrimp Feast, which is moving from Thursday due to the event being only three days this year. “Normally it’s on Friday, but with the shrimp feast on Friday, we decided to put the demolition derby on Saturday morning at 11:30,” said Peanut Fest Chairwoman Theresa Earles. “Also, just because Friday nights, it’s always really difficult for people to get off work, rush home, get their families and get to the demolition derby on time to get seats, food and all that good stuff. Hopefully, moving it to Saturday will eliminate some of that rush.” Earles said Peanut Fest gates would open at 9 a.m. instead of the normal 10 a.m. to allow people to get in early and find the best seat in the Suffolk Festivals Arena, since the seats typically fill up quickly.
Participants can compete in the stock compact and stock full-size categories, and there will be $3,650 in cash prizes awarded. There will also be a Power Wheels derby for kids at 11 a.m. before the demolition derby starts. On Sunday, Peanut Fest will debut a new event, the Peanut Cup Dirt Track Auto Race, which Earles says fits in well with the motorsports theme. Also Sunday will be the Swamp Roar Motorcycle Rally, consisting of an 80-mile ride around the Great Dismal Swamp, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Suffolk Executive Airport. The event costs $20 per driver and $10 per passenger. With no change to the cost of admission and the desire of many to return to some normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic, Earles expects to see big crowds over the course of the three-day event. “I think everyone’s just really excited to get back out there and get back out to the site,” Earles said. “We invite the community back, and hopefully people from all around the region will come. It might be their first Peanut Fest, or it might be their 40th, but we’re going to have a great time.”
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