It’s that pumpkin-mangling time of the year again, and I’m not talking about putting a safety carver in the hands of an overly-zealous seven year old and letting them “go at it” with the family gourd; I’m referring to various forms of pumpkin launching, also called Punkin’ Chunkin’ ™ or just punkin’ chuckin’, which has quickly become a heavily charged fall favorite. Whether you’re interested in the annual World Championship Punkin’ Chunkin’™ contest in Millsboro, Delaware, punkin’ chuckin’ during Mortin, Illinois annual pumpkin festival, Rainbow Casino’s Catapumpkin™, or adore the simplicity of MIT’s annual pumpkin drop, there is a pumpkin hurling event out there for any taste.

Punkin’ Chunkin’™ is probably the most widely known pumpkin launching event in the US. The principles of Punkin’ Chunkin’™ are simple; try to get an 8 to 10lb pumpkin the farthest distance through the use of modern ingenuity, brawn, or old fashioned invention while following a list of simple rules and safety guidelines. The growth of this event has been astounding.

When Does it Happen?

Teams from across the nation converge on the small farm town of Millsboro, Delaware (that’s 75 degrees 15’ 35.35”W, 38 degrees 38’ 43.30” N GPS,) the first weekend after Halloween to compete in a battle of concept with monstrous machines, creative contraptions, and human hulk. They arrive toting enormous contraptions with the hope of being crowned Punkin’ Chunkin’™ World Champion. Teams as small as three members, or as large as thirty have been known to enter this annual competition, which begins at 8:00 am on a Friday morning and ends with an awards ceremony at 4:00 on Sunday.