Get ready to rock out at the Sunrise Kiwanis’ 40th annual version of the Manteca Pumpkin Fair.
The two- day event on Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both includes free entertainment on the Community Stage beneath the shade of Wilson Park.
Among those is the tribute band ZZ Tush from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
ZZ Tush’s band members are Ed Koop, 60, on drums; John Roche, 69, on bass; and Dan Monaghan, 68, on guitar.
Upcoming concert dates for the ZZ Top tribute band are the Crest Theatre in Sacramento in Nov. 10, Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne City on Jan. 10, and the Westside Theatre in Newman on March 21.
Other Saturday bands are GK Music from 10:30 a.m. to noon and Texas Funk from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup features Triple D from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., No Way Back from 1 to 3 p.m., and Valley Fire from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
In addition to more than 200 vendors, kids games, and more the downtown Manteca Pumpkin Fair offers:
*A car show on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the 100 block of Main Street. Entry fee on the day of the show is $30. For details go to SunriseKiwanis.org
*Pumpkin Fair Movie After Dark featuring “The Nightmare Before Christmas” movie at Wilson Park on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. The free entry event features a disc jockey and games. Food will be available at a snack bar.
*A pickleball tournament at the Center Street courts. Entries have already closed.
*A pumpkin decorating contest with categories for kids, the scariest, and most original. It takes place Sunday, Oct. 5, in the community garden next to the tennis courts across from the library. Bring your pumpkins by between 10 a.m. and noon. Judging takes place at 2 p.m.
The Pumpkin Fair celebrates the fact almost 7 out of every 10 pumpkins sold commercially in California go rumbling out of Manteca on trucks from now until the end of October.
Fields around Manteca yielded 37,500 tons of pumpkins from 2,520 acres last year with a gross value of $19.9 million.
For additional information, go to sunrisekiwanis.org
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
