The 55th annual Pumpkin Roll will be held in historic Knights Ferry on Sunday, Nov 4.

Always staged in the small community on the Sunday after Halloween, that day falls this year on Nov. 4 – you don’t even have to bring a pumpkin; they are all provided.

According to Tracy Griesner, chairman of the contest, the object of the game is to start at the end of the pumpkin roll area and roll your favorite pumpkin down Main Street. The winner is the one who gets the gourd to stop closest to the chalked finish line. Only one roll is allowed per person. There are five categories from pre-school to senior citizen with male and female trophy winners in each category.

Each year a pickup truck load of pumpkins is donated by George Perry and Sons of Manteca, one of the area’s largest growers.

Sign-ups start at 11 a.m. in front of the Knights Ferry Community Club. A small donation is the registration fee. Those from birth to five-years-old start the ball – or more appropriately, the pumpkin – rolling at noon on the tennis court. The main event for six years and over begins at 1 p.m. The senior citizens group is always popular and held first. The pumpkin roll typically draws a huge crowd to the hamlet, with many choosing to take part and others cheering on their favorite rollers.

A pancake breakfast will be served at the IOOF Hall on Main Street from 8 a.m. until noon.

A craft faire with holiday gift ideas will be open in the Club House, as well as food for sale. The Garden Club will have their famous pumpkin roll desserts on sale.

The Knights Ferry Museum and Ice Cream Shop will be open on Sunday as well. The firefighters will be selling tri-tip sandwiches in front of the firehouse.

For questions or additional information, call 209-881-3217 or 209-881-3099.

The annual Pumpkin Roll goes off, rain or shine.