Get ready for the hottest Manteca Pumpkin Fair this century.
Not only will the free music be “hot” as well as all of the traditional street fair trappings with a heavy emphasis on everything pumpkin, but so will the weather.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a high of 99 degrees this Saturday (Oct. 5) and 100 degrees on Sunday (Oct. 6) during the two-day Sunrise Kiwanis event in downtown Manteca.
It’s will be hottest highs since at least 1999 for the street fair celebrating Manteca being the undisputed California pumpkin growing champ.
Ironically, it will actually be higher than the peak temperature of 86 degrees on June 2 on the first day of the two-day Manteca Chamber of Commerce’s Watermelon Festival that was also conducted downtown.
That said, the Pumpkin Fair as usual will prove to be worth venturing downtown.
There are 40 new vendor spots under the shady canopy of the tall sycamore trees along Manteca Avenue.
They are next to Library Park where there is plenty of shade for the free kids games with pumpkin themes, the community stage, as well as the pumpkin patch where you can search for the perfect pumpkin to buy.
There is also a fair amount of tree shade along Sycamore Avenue where the food vendors are located.
The Main Stage is also under shade where Manteca and Sycamore avenues converge. As is the beer garden that likely will be the place to linger this year.
Hot music for a hot time
Playing the Main Stage Saturday are GK Music from 11 a.m. to noon, Jim Anderson from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Triple D from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and 8 Track Massacre from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday’s line-up includes GK Music from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Triple D from 1 to 2:15 p.m., and Latin Magic from 3 to 5 p.m.
Manteca product Jim Amderson who has dabbled in movies and more, has always been considered one of the hottest Elvis tribute singers.
And it is in terms of the typical Elvis impersonator show.
Instead, it is his laser sharp focus on Elvis Presley’s music instead of lapsing into the caricatures of an older Elvis in a jumpsuit.
The retired sheriff’s deputy offers an early 1950s Elvis look but his true forte is nailing the music.
Anderson and his band have opened for acts such as The Coasters, Platters, Del Vikings, Isley Brothers, Marvalettes, Doug Kershaw, and Zydaco Flames.
Triple D bills itself as a no nonsense Rock and Roll ranging from classic rock to hard rock and acoustic rock. The three-piece power trio covers music from 70s,80s, rock n roll.
8 Track Massacre indicates they are passionate about delivering that "expression of emotion.”
They’ve been doing it since 2009 standing by their motto “it has to be danceable — period".
Latin Magic Band has opened for internationally acclaimed acts including: Zapp, Teena Marie, War, Malo, Tito Puente, Gap Band, Tierra, Pete & Sheila Escovedo, and Con Funk Shun to mention a few
Latin Magic Band specializes in Cubias, Oldies, Latin Rock, and Old School. Their music is energetic and moving.
GK Music features young bands, of which many compose their own material.
More about Pumpkin Fair
The 39th annual Pumpkin Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the downtown triangle bounded by Main Street, Center Street, and the railroad tracks.
There are nearly 200 vendors selling everything from foods and craft items to toys, CDs, and household decorations plus more.
Besides two stages of continuous entertainment, the fair offers pumpkin painting/decorating/carving contest, a paint and sip party, beer garden, a car show Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday plus the Pumpkin Patch/Kids Zone in Library Park.
For more details, go to mantecapumpkinfair.org
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
