NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) – There are very few Halloween traditions quite like the Punkin’ Chunkin’ event held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New Bethlehem.
Participants launch pumpkins from homemade canons hundreds of feet into the air at nitrogen-filled balloons that are placed on the other side of Redbank Creek.
On Saturday, despite less-than-ideal conditions with some light rain falling, hundreds turned out to witness the 9th annual spectacle.
Larry Smith, a long-time VFW member and Korean War veteran, said the idea came from former member Gary “Fud” Snyder, who died in December of 2015.
“Gary and Brian Anderson kinda came up with it, and it just seemed to go from there,” Smith said. “We do it just for fun, and it’s really turned into something.”
“It’s good for the members, the community, and businesses. It gives people something to look forward to,” Smith said.
The shoot is just for fun, and there are no prizes awarded.
“It’s just a nice, little event everyone can have fun at,” Smith said.
Wingard’s Farm Market, in Shippenville, donates the pumpkins for the event, according to Smith.
Smith said there have been contestants who come from as far as Warren, Oil City, and Latrobe, although many are mostly locals.
“Some of them have really gotten into building the canons. They can shoot those pumpkins 400, 500 yards,” Smith said. “And, it’s a real community project, too. Redbank Chevrolet, next door to us, moves some of the cars off their lot, so there is more parking.”
“Rev. Samuel Bungo, a local Catholic priest, also gets in on the fun, blessing the canons before they are fired. The more the merrier we say.”
Bungo shared some fun facts before the canons took center stage:
- The world’s largest pumpkin was five feet in diameter and weighed 1,800 pounds;
- The world’s largest pumpkin pie weighed 2,020 pounds;
- In the average pumpkin has 500 seeds;
- Every part of a pumpkin is edible; and
- Delaware holds an annual punkin chunkin championship and some canons shoot pumpkins as far as 5,000 feet, nearly a mile.
The weather, much like Saturday’s, doesn’t seem to matter.
“One year, it rained and sleeted, but plenty of people still came and enjoyed themselves,” Smith said.
