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September is one of our favorite months of the year in Suffolk for reasons beyond the occasional nip in the air that hints of pleasant fall weather just around the corner.

Two of our favorite events occur next month.

The third annual Suffolk Plein Air Festival will be Sept. 5-9, featuring 42 professional artists from across the United States and as far away as the Netherlands who will “Paint Suffolk Virginia” — capturing the beauty of our community’s waterways, landscapes and streetscapes. We’re proud that Suffolk’s own Cindy Lane will be among the artists competing for the event’s cash prizes.

It’s impressive to see Suffolk through the eyes and talents of others courtesy of the outdoor painting event. Plein air, at its simplest, is just the art of painting outdoors, but there’s more to it than that. Plein air artists are committed to capturing the scene as they see it, including the natural light, and enjoying the atmosphere that comes along with it.

This excellent event has brought a lot of people to Suffolk and once again pinned us in a positive light for the art world. We thank the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and the many sponsors of this event for putting this together and wish the artists and their traveling companions a great time in our city.

A good chance to get in on the fun is 6-9:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Suffolk Art Gallery, which will host the festival’s Wet Paint Sale and Soiree. Attendees will meet the artists, view their new artwork and have a chance to purchase the Suffolk-themed pieces. Tickets are $100 each and available at www.SuffolkPleinAir.org.  

Another of our favorite events, the Taste of Suffolk Downtown Street Festival, happens the next day from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., followed by live music in Courthouse Park until 8 p.m.

Taste of Suffolk is in its 17th year of attracting visitors from across the region. The event site will stretch down Main Street from Finney Avenue to Washington Street, and along West Washington to Saratoga. 

Main Street will be lined with Suffolk’s independent restaurants presenting their signature menu items. While all of the participating restaurants are local, the cuisine originates from around the world. Eateries offer smaller portions at nominal prices, allowing event attendees to sample an assortment of culinary creations. Merchants will sell a variety of goods and services, and Suffolk’s car dealerships will present a New Vehicle Exhibition.

Also planned are a children’s activity area, a beer garden showcasing local craft brews and Wall Street Café’s Heat and Sweet Eating Contests. Ambitious eaters brave enough to accept the super-spicy wing challenge or super-sweet pie challenge can sign up at the Taste of Suffolk information tent that day.