The Queen’s Luncheon & Fashion Show Thursday, October 2, 12:00 PM — National Guard Armory at Noon Sponsored by: Planters A division of Kraft Foods Global, Inc. and Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center Produced by: The Pilot Club of Suffolk Fashions by: Denison’s and Richardson and Nash Since 1941, the peanut festivities have included an array of pageantry and the coronation of a queen and her court. The first “Queen Arachis Hypogea” (the botanical name for the peanut plant), Olive Cawley from New Jersey, was attired in an all-peanut gown, and her entourage included 50 princesses from dozens of communities and neighboring states. The second festival queen, Patricia Donnelly of Detroit, had been the 1939 Miss America. She was greeted at the airport by dignitaries including Amedeo Obici, who scattered roasted peanuts at her feet rather than the traditional rose petals. The modern predecessor of today’s festival, Harvest Fest, was started in 1978, and the festival queen was voted by the general public. Since then, the title has been bestowed to scores of young ladies, along with the task of representing the festival and the City of Suffolk and an array of activities. Today’s festival queen is selected from among rising high school seniors that are evaluated by a panel based on four criteria: a creative writing essay; school activities; awards and achievements; and community involvement. The queen and her court are treated to a luncheon and popular fashion show by the Pilot Club of Suffolk. Tickets are $15 per person. For ticket availability, call the Suffolk Visitor Center at 757-923-3880. Nation-Wide Demolition Derby Friday, October 10, 6:00 PM - On the Festival Grounds Sponsored by: General Rental Center, Benie Renfrow and Vulcan Materials Company Produced by: Nation-Wide Demolition Derby A festival tradition, the Friday night demolition derby is an exciting, wows, bangs and booms good time. The idea of demolition derbies was conceived some 45 years ago by a 28-year-old stock car driver named Larry Mendelsohn. He staged the first demo derby at Islip Speedway (Long Island) in 1958. Intrigued how spectators were brought to the edge of their seats by the crashes of stock car racing, Mendelsohn produced a spectacular event of nothing but crashing and banging, and the now popular demolition derby was born. Today, Nation-Wide Demolition Derby has staged over 2,000 contests from coast to coast and border to boarder. Over 18 million fans have been entertained and 200,000 cars have been destroyed. The derbies involve local drivers that compete in their own automobiles that have been modified to provide safety precautions. Participants battle one another in compact and full-size auto heats until the last one running is cheered as champion. For full contest rules, see Applications & Entry Forms. Food Lion 250 Truck and Tractor Pull Saturday, October 11 — Festival Arena Area at 3:00 PM Produced by: Big Daddy Motorsports, Inc. Suffolk Swamp Roar Motorcycle Rally Sunday, October 12 — On the Festival Grounds Sponsored by: Suffolk Division of Tourism Begun as a separate activity in 2002, the “Suffolk Swamp Roar” became one of the festival’s official special events in 2003. With police escort, hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts trek the scenic 80-mile perimeter ‘of the Great Dismal Swamp National Refuge, raising awareness and funds to benefit interpretive and educational programs and habitat restoration within the Great Dismal Swamp NWR. This year’s 6th annual motorcycle rally hits the road Sunday, October 14, at 10:30 a.m. from the festival grounds. Staging of the bikes begins at 9:00 a.m., and the group returns with a grand parade of motorcycles on the Mid-Way about 1:00 p.m. $20 donation per person includes event tee-shirt, door prizes and post-ride reception. For registration flyer, see Applications & Entry Forms.