World Punkin' Chunkin' Championships

This three-day festival draws tens of thousands of spectators as custom-built machines launch one pumpkin after another into the sky. In true American style, each year sees the distances getting longer and the ingenuity of the creators stretched further than the bow of a giant pumpkin catapult.

Friday is all about control rather than length. The winner of the Chunkin' for Charity Target Competition gets a donation to a charity of their choice. The weekend sees the real chunkin' starting, as each morning the two Youth categories (ten and under & 11-17) and the Human Powered disciplines battle it out. The afternoon is the turn of the crowd-pleasing Unlimited Machines, which can be powered by catapult, trebuchet, centrifuge or air.

Remembering that pumpkins are also edible, there is also a pumpkin pie competition at the weekend. To get fully into the spirit of the event, we recommend staying at the festival campsite. The weather in Delaware at this time of year is almost guaranteed to be wet, so wear your rain gear. Hard hats and umbrellas are advised....