20th Annual Taste of Suffolk Downtown Street Festival at Downtown Suffolk (Suffolk)

Suffolk Parks & Recreation is proud to announce the 20th annual Taste of Suffolk Downtown Street Festival! The event is set for Saturday, September 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in historic downtown Suffolk, with an After Party from 5 to 8 p.m. at Downtown Festival Park, 215 W. Washington St. The event will feature a day of delicious food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities in Downtown Suffolk.

This year’s festival footprint will include Downtown Festival Park at Washington and Saratoga Streets, then extend down Washington Street to Commerce Street, and up Main Street to Market Street.

Local independent restaurants will serve up their signature dishes. Attendees are invited to cast their vote for the coveted Golden Fork Award for Best Bite. Shoppers can explore booths featuring goods and services from area vendors. And classic car enthusiasts can visit the car show hosted by Main Street United Methodist Church, just off Bank Street.

Participants of all ages will find plenty to do in the Fun Zone, sponsored by Sam’s Xpress Car Wash, and located at the former SunTrust Bank building, 123 N. Main St. Outdoor Fun Zone attractions include a barrel train, rock wall, inflatable slide, bounce house, magic shows, and face painting. Indoor attractions include games, puppet shows, a baby changing and nursing room, plus a sensory-relief room for neurodivergent individuals or anyone needing a break.

Live music will start on the Main Stage (Main and Washington Streets) at 11 a.m. and in the Courthouse Fountain Park Beer Garden at 12:30 p.m. Nansemond Brewing Station will host the traditional beer garden at Courthouse Fountain Park, but will also introduce a second beer garden at Downtown Festival Park. To commemorate the event’s 20-year anniversary, Nansemond Brewing Station will also feature a specialty beer, brewed just for the occasion.

With the use of Downtown Festival Park, a second performance stage will be in place and will feature line dancing from 12-3 p.m. The Downtown Festival Park parking lot will host the VA 250 Mobile Museum and will be open for all event-goers to visit and continue celebrating America’s birthday.

The closed-street portion of the festival will end at 5 p.m. but keep the fun going at the After Party at Downtown Festival Park with live music from 5 to 8 p.m.

Entertainment Schedule:

11:00 a.m.: Heather Edwards Band – Main Stage (Main and Wash. Sts.)

12:00 p.m.: Line Dancing – Downtown Festival Park (215 W. Wash. St.)

Puppet Show – Fun Zone (123 N. Main St.)

12:30 p.m.: Derek Smith – Courthouse Fountain Park Beer Garden (across from 123 N. Main St.)

1:00 p.m.: Allen Hudson & the Half Moons – Main Stage

1:30 p.m.: Magic Show – Fun Zone

2:00 p.m.: Puppet Show – Fun Zone

2:45 p.m.: Magic Show – Fun Zone

3:00 p.m.: Big Torrin – Main Stage

                      Plein Air Festival Awards – Downtown Festival Park

4:15 p.m.: Magic Show – Fun Zone

5:00 p.m.: Airliner – Downtown Festival Park

Parking: Free parking is available in the following locations:

· Cherry Street & Saratoga Street Lot (107 S. Saratoga Street)

· Saratoga Street Lot (107 N. Saratoga Street)

· Carolina Road & Main Street Lot (144 S. Main Street)

· Commerce Street & Franklin Street Lot (120 N. Commerce Street)

· First Baptist Church Lot (200 N. Main Street)

· Godwin Courts Building Lot (150 N. Main Street)

· Market Park (330 N. Main Street)

· Prentis Street Lot (201 Prentis Street)

· City Hall Parking Lot (442 W. Washington Street)

Road closures will begin at 5 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, and the following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic:

· N. Main Street: between Market Street and Finney Avenue, Southbound traffic only

· 100 Block of N. Main Street: from Market Street to Washington Street.

· S. Main Street Bridge: closed to vehicular traffic.

· 100 Block of Bank Street: from Commerce Street to N. Main Street.

· 100 Block of E. Washington Street: from Commerce Street to N. Main Street.

· 100 Block of W. Washington Street: from Saratoga Street to N. Main Street.

For more information, visit tasteofsuffolkva.com or contact (757) 514-7250 or parksemail@suffolkva.us.