The first weekend in October is almost here.
Crews are busy tossing pumpkins into open bed trailers pulled by tractors through fields surrounding Manteca as they harvest nearly 80 percent of California commercially grown pumpkin crop.
Dozens of trucks a day are rolling out of Manteca delivering to distributors throughout California a bounty of pumpkins that by season’s end typically exceeds 54,000 tons.
All of that can only mean one thing.
Pumpkin fun is rolling into downtown Manteca.
It’s time for the 37th annual Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis ‘ version of the Manteca Pumpkin.
And if you count pumpkin celebrations staged by other service clubs beforehand, the pumpkin fun has been going on for close to half a century in Manteca.
That said no one can throw a pumpkin party like “The Pumpkin Fair People” — the Sunrise Kiwanis.
Downtown Manteca is being turned into all things pumpkin from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, and Sunday, Oct, 2 in the triangle formed by Yosemite Avenue, Main Street, and Center Street.
It features free admission, free entertainment, free parking, and free fun.
It also will feature ideal weather. The first frost has yet to form on the pumpkins. The forecast for both days calls for highs in the mid-800s.
In other words, perfect weather for people watching, family fun, checking out 150 vendors, and enjoying every street food possible from Lockeford Sausage to ice cream treats.
Yes, the pumpkin magic is returning.
You can see the eyes of kids get bigger than the slice of pumpkin pie they try to eat in time honored beat-the-clock traditon.
You can see the giddiness of kids picking out the perfect pumpkin.
You’ll hear the music of talented teens and professional acts fill the October air.
Neighbors, friends and families wander the streets of downtown Manteca taking in the sights and sounds enjoying a warm early fall day.
The two-day Manteca Pumpkin Fair is one of the biggest laid-back events on the calendar in the 209.
It started almost 50 years ago as a way for Manteca’s pumpkin growers to express community pride and to give kids a day of old-fashioned fun.
Half Moon Bay’s bold and dubious claim in the 1970s that it was the Pumpkin Capital of the World has helped generate around $1 million for Manteca non-profits.
That’s because Manteca pumpkin growers headed by George Perry were a bit taken aback given the fact historically anywhere between 70 and 80 percent of all pumpkins grown in California come from the fields around Manteca.
That prompted the farmers to start an informal “pumpkin fair” a few hours at Library Park in downtown Manteca that consisted of some kids’ games, a belly dancer that first year, bales of hay and a small mountain of pumpkins. They also openly challenged Half Moon Bay’s claim. That led to the “friendly feud” between the two communities being a featured cover story in People magazine.
Today the Manteca Pumpkin Fair is staged by the Sunrise Kiwanis.
Information on vendor booths for the two-day event that typically lures more than 50,000 people is available by going to www.sunrisekiwanis.org
The lineup of events and entertainers includes:
Saturday events
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tractor Show Main Street
10 a.m. Pumpkin Fair Prince and Princes Community Stage
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. RV Show Maple Avenue
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Paint Party In the Park Midnight Owls
10:45 a.m. Ka Hul Aloha Polynesia Community Stage
11 a.m. Corn Hole Rolling Tournaments start on Poplar Avenue
11 a.m. to noon Pet costume parade Gazebo
11 a.m. Story time with Manteca Police Chief Michael Aguilar in the Kids Zone
11:50 a.m. Pie Eating Contest Community Stage
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Gypsy Soul Performs on the Main stage
11:30 a.m. Story time with Ruthanne Bassett in the Kids Zone
Noon Sierra High Jazz band Community Stage
Noon Story time with Master Gardner Morris Lacey in the Kids Zone
12:30 p.m. The Unstoppables Community Stage
1 to 1:30 p.m., Story Time with Ruthanne Bassett in the Kids Zone
1 p.m. RITech Community Stage
1:30 to 2 p.m. Photos with Captain America in the Kids Zone
1:30 p.m. Turbulence Community Stage
2 p.m. Network Main Stage
2 p.m. Pie Eating Contest Community Stage
2:10 p.m. JC and the One Man Band Community Stage
2:50 p.m. Shattered Community Stage
3:20 p.m. Edge of Eden Community Stage
3:50 p.m., Scarlet Rose Community Stage
4 p.m., Gotcha Main Stage
4:20 p.m., Break the Paradox Community Stage
5 p.m. Waitin’on Ollie Community Stage
5:30 p.m. Dark Harmony Community Stage
Sunday events
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Car Show Main Street
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., RV Show Maple Avenue
10 a.m. Sparkle Sisters Community Stage
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Paint Party In the Park Midnight Owls
10:45 a.m. Riot 392 Community Stage
11 a.m. Corn Hole Tournaments start on Poplar Avenue
11 a.m. Gypsy Soul Main Stage
11 a.m. to noon Pet costume parade Gazebo
11:15 a.m. Pie Eating Contest Community Stage
Noon Daydream Community Stage
Noon Story time with Master Gardner Morris Lacey in the Kids Zone
12:25 p.m. Tarter Tots Community Stage
12:50 p.m. Teller Crows Community Stage
1:50 p.m. Pie Eating Contest Community Stage
1:30 p.m. Story time with Fire Chief Dave Marques
1:40 p.m. Last July Community Stage
2 p.m. Mike Torres Band Main Stage
2 p.m. Last July Community Stage
2:30 p.m. Day Run Wild Community Stage
3 p.m. Car Show Awards Main Street
3 p.m. No Alibi Community Stage
3:30 p.m. They Catch Secrets Community Stage
4 p.m. Portrait of Elysia Community Stage
4:30 p.m. Dystophia Community Stage
