THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508300167
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER SUFFOLK
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
PEANUT FEST planners offer a two-word description of this year's event - bigger and better.
The new site at the Municipal Airport, next to the former site, boasts 70 acres, 30 more than in years past.
``We had 225,000 visitors last year, the largest crowd ever,'' said Linda B. Stevens, festival director. ``We hope to do as good this year, or better.''
The dates are Oct. 5-8. Some of the enticements are big names in country, bluegrass, jazz, rock and pop.
Country music fans can spend Oct. 8 enjoying two new artists and a standard, said Wayne Smith, one of seven co-chairpersons. Steve Wariner has been a favorite for years. The new ones are Lisa Brokop and Russ Taff.
Jason D. Williams, a wild entertainer often compared to Jerry Lee Lewis, will return to perform at the Ruritan-sponsored Shrimp Feast, Oct. 5.
Jazz fans will have their day Oct. 7, with music by two well-known national acts, Pieces of a Dream and Against All Odds.
``There'll be a hot Friday night (Oct. 4) for fans of classic rock,'' Smith said. ``Those names will be announced later.''
They will be announced pending the signing of contracts.
One name that can be announced is country-folk singer-clogger-songwriter John Hartford, who penned several of Glen Campbell's hits including ``Gentle On My Mind.''
He will be on the Peanut Stage Oct. 7 after the Pizza Hut International Bluegrass Showdown, a national competition featuring area contestants who, later, will compete with winners from other parts of the country.
Gospel music enthusiasts will have their day - Sunday, naturally. An Oct. 8 Gospel Festival, featuring several quartets, is on the schedule.
``This is the most important year, no doubt about it, as far as name acts are concerned,'' Smith said.
It is a very good year for the expanded Family Area, which is ``almost a festival within a festival,'' Stevens said. ``A lot of events will be going on.
``Mahone's Forge is coming back with some more hands-on crafts, including demonstrations of candle dipping, and spinning and weaving,'' she said. ``The wash lady will be there, showing how clothes used to be washed using such things as rocks and washboards.''
Those exhibits are scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8.
Degeller Attractions of Florida is also returning, once again providing the rides.
``It's the same company as in the past,'' Stevens said, ``but they bring different rides every year. One day they'll offer one price tickets for all the rides.''
Other returnees are the demolition derby, offering $1,000 in total prize money for a $20 entry fee, and The Gravedigger, a massive monster truck on hand to give rides to festgoers.
Other sports events include the Oct. 5 Golf Outing at the Suffolk Golf Course, offering merchandise prizes for an entry fee of $50, and the 4th annual Invitational Softball Tournament scheduled for Sept. 30.
Once again, there will be more than before.
``The Arts-Crafts tent has gone from 240 to 270 feet, allowing 16 new exhibitors,'' Stevens said.
A couple spaces are still available there and in the Commercial Tent, which is 10 feet longer, allowing for four more exhibitors.
With more acreage the prayer is for more vendor joy.
``We hope the locations of vendors and exhibitors will be wonderful. We hope they'll be happy with the traffic flow on site,'' Stevens said. ``It looks absolutely wonderful on paper, but until we open up we really won't know.''
Another question mark is the parking.
``There'll be a little more but it will be similar to the past. We'll have better lighting eventually,'' Stevens said. ``Everything will be much better - eventually.
``This is a trial run year,'' she said, ``because of the new site.
``Putting on a festival at a larger site is a vast job,'' she said, ``so we have seven chairpersons this year. They're members of the Board of Directors who were past chairpersons.''
They are Herman Bunch Jr., Roberta Bunch, Thomas ``Tiny'' Andrews Jr., Wayne Smith, Wayne Evans, Harden Barnett Jr. and Sandy Blowe.
Next year, the Fest will go back to one chairman. Sanford ``Sanny'' Chapman, a retired captain of the Suffolk Police Department will have that job. MEMO: For information about Peanut Fest, call 539-6751.
ILLUSTRATION: File photo
P Nutty is the official mascot for the Peanut Fest, which is planned
for Oct. 5-8.
by CNB