Mark the calendar for Sunday, Nov. 3 – that’s the date for the 56th annual Pumpkin Roll in historic Knights Ferry. The roll is always hosted on the first Sunday after Halloween in the hamlet.

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 closest to the chalked finish line. There are five age categories, from preschool to senior citizens, 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 for the event; they are one of the area’s largest growers.

Sign-ups start at 11 a.m. in front of the Knights Ferry Community Club, sponsor of the event. A small donation is the registration fee. Roll off begins at noon with the youngest group on the tennis courts, followed by the main event for those six years old and above, starting at 1 p.m., with the senior citizens class going first.

The IOOF Hall will be open for the monthly pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. until noon. A craft faire with holiday items will be open in the Clubhouse during the event, with food sales and the Garden Club’s famous pumpkin roll desserts will be available as well.

The Knights Ferry Museum will be open upstairs in Miller’s Hall, the Ice Cream Shop will be open as well as the gift shop and those attending may also get the chance to see spawning salmon in the Stanislaus River.