DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710010168

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   40 lines

PARADE ROLLS THROUGH DOWNTOWN ON SATURDAY

The 1997 Peanut Fest parade will take place under clear skies, and there will be a pleasant breeze - so says the U.S. Weather Bureau and the more reliable, Farmer's Almanac.

The annual crowd pleaser, featuring about 150 units, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and will feature lots of the expected - floats, bands, the Shriners, clowns, beauty queens.

The floats will carry out to this year's theme, ``Farming - Past, Present and Future.''

Awards will be given to several floats. The categories are Best Float and Most Creative.

The marching bands will also be in competition, judged by the best - representatives of the Atlantic Fleet Band, based in Norfolk.

There will be trophies for first, second, and third place, plus a Spirit Aaward for the fourth place band.

There will be no trophies given the parade's participating politicians, although they may be rewarded by an extra vote or two as a result of their waves and smiles.

The parade is produced by the Virginia Power Volunteers who help line up the units and assist the participants. MEMO: The 1997 Suffolk Peanut Fest Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The starting point is South Broad and West Washington streets,

continuing down Main Street, dispersing at the corner of Freemason

Street. For information, call 934-8751. ILLUSTRATION: File photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

One parade goer at the 1996 Suffolk Peanut Fest parade waves

enthustically at Mr. Peanut as he rolls down West Washington Street.

This year's parade through downtown starts at 10 a.m.

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