The day begins with people setting up chairs they've brought from home
in prime watching positions.
(Note the excitement in the faces.)
The first Sunday in November is the Knights Ferry Pumpkin Roll, held in Knights
Ferry, California.
What is a Pumpkin Roll? The Pumpkin Roll is, well, rolling pumpkins. Yes, there
is the delectable desert, the pumpkin roll, and the ladies group in Knights
Ferry make and sell about 100 of them each year, but that isn't the kind of
pumpkin roll I'm talking about.
This year was the 43rd annual Knight's Ferry Pumpkin Roll.
It all started with a birthday party the whole town was invited to. By the end of the day/party people were feeling "pretty good" and someone discovered a truckload of pumpkins. The men began tossing them down the main street in town, to see who could throw one the farthest. Everyone had so much fun, they decided to do it again the next year. Throwing pumpkins progressed to rolling pumpkins (because the clean-up was so messy with the throwing). Then a line was drawn and the winner was whoever rolled their pumpkin closest to the line.
The rollers are divided into age groups and male and female. Boys and girls ages 0-5, 6-12, teenagers (boys group and girls group), adults (men's group and women's group), and seniors (men's group and women's group). A very close line is provided for the little ones, a farther away line for the next age group and a far line for every one else. Teeny tiny trophies were added to the mix, it was decided the Roll was to be held on the first Sunday of the month because of the pancake breakfast offered by the local Oddfellows lodge, and then next, people began to bring their crafts to sell. So, it's really evolved into quite a production.
I don't know the actual count of how many people rolled pumpkins, but I think there were about 95 in the women's group and about 100 in the men's group. This is serious business folks!
The day begins with people setting up chairs they've brought from home
in prime watching positions. |
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On the other side of the street is the sign-up table. My aunt helps to run this and families are so good to each other that they are always signing up those who "think" they don't want to roll so that they don't miss out on the fun and ridicule. |
There are other very important people involved in this exciting sport, the man in the back of the truck is the caller. He makes sure everyone hears that it is their turn to roll and also makes sure everyone knows that you missed your turn because you were in the bathroom at the time. |
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My cousin Cindy is the Official Recorder. She keeps track of the Official Measurements so that there is no question as to who's pumpkin came closest to the line, to determine who is the winner at the end of the competition. |
Here is the starting line. After you have picked the "Perfect Rolling Pumpkin" out of the back of the truck (a pile of "Perfect Pumpkins" is donated by a very generous family) you go to the line when your name is called. |
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Note the stance and concentration here. |
Once you are ready, you let your pumpkin go. There are many different techniques to rolling pumpkins. You just never know which one will work this year. It all depends on the "Road Conditions", "Pumpkin Conditions" and with how much force you let your pumpkin go. It also depends on where in the road you let go. If you let go too close to the right, the pumpkin will undoubtedly roll out of bounds and off toward the river thanks to the lovely crowning of the road. If you let go too close to the left side of the road, you pumpkin will slow down and wobble out of bounds on that side. |
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Hmm, looks like this one may be going a little too fast. Check out that bouncing action. This one's headed out of town and up to Sonora. |
This is the "Kids' and Seniors' Line". If you are an "Adult", this is where you hope your pumpkin begins to slow down or you can be sure it is going to keep on going on down the street, waaaaay past the proper stopping line. |
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Has this pumpkin begun to slow? Hard to tell. |
Now, this is where your nerves need to be made of steel. There is the finish line and then there is the side line. Will your pumpkin STOP in bounds so that you can be a contender? Or, will it slow to a stop, turn and roll off the side? You can only hope and pray that it will stop and go flat right here! |
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To me, this one looks like it hasn't finished rolling. Note how it is still on its side and is beginning to turn toward the edge? |
In the Senior Women's roll, one pumpkin went to the line, stopped, wobbled, turned and roll straight down the line and out of bounds. Oh the agony of being so close and yet so far! I was inside the hall selling beads and I could hear the cheering and then the groans.
In the Men's roll, the winning pumpkin actually laid itself down right ON the line. You can't get any closer than that! The cheering for that pumpkin was heard all over town.
