Just how good are you at carving or decorating a pumpkin?

You can let “The Pumpkin Fair People”  — also known as the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis  — be the judge of that during the 39th annual Pumpkin Fair Oct. 7-8 in downtown Manteca.

The are staging the fourth annual Pumpkin Carving & Decorating Contest.

It is free to enter.

And you have a chance to win one of four $50 gift cards being awarded for the scariest and most creative in  two different age groups — kids 15 and under as well as those 16 and older. The winners also get a trophy that incorporates a pumpkin in the design.

The process is simple for the contest sponsored by the Manteca Grocery Outlet store.

*Obtain your own pumpkin.

*It can be any size, big or small.

*Carve or decorate it at home.

*Drop it off at the beer garden near the main stage at Wilson Park across from the post office on Manteca Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 7, between 4 and 6 p.m.

*The winners will be announced on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m.

*Pick up you entry at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7.

This year’s edition

of the Pumpkin Fair

This year’s  Manteca Pumpkin Fair takes place in downtown Manteca on Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.

Downtown Manteca is being turned into all things pumpkin from Oct. 7-8 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 around 80 degrees.

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.

 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

 There’s a Paint and Sip Party with three sessions. The $30 fee covers the 12-inch by 12-inch canvas, needed supplies and of course wine.

There’s a car show on Sunday and the free kids zone events each day at Library Park.

And arguably the best part is the free Kids Zone games such as a pumpkin rolling and pumpkin pie eating contest at Library Park. The fun starts each day at 10 a.m. and goes through 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 8.

There are also pumpkins for sale in a makeshift patch. You can paint them for free if you wish, free at the Kids Zone.

The Main Stage entertainment includes:

Saturday

*11 a.m. to noon: A guitar and vocal act

*12:30 to 2 p.m.: The Suspension (pop/classic rock/harmony)        

*2:30 to 4 p.m.: The Sky Kings (country/rock/blues/funk)

4:30 to 6 p.m.: Jim Anderson & The Rebels (Elvis/country)

Sunday

*11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Network

*1 to 2:30 p.m.: Bad Neighbors

*3 to 5 p.m.:  Aaron Gayden Band