MARIETTA— After the spooky season is over, you may be tempted to toss your jack-o-lanterns into the garbage, but Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) has a fun alternative to disposing of your pumpkins.
On Saturday, November 4 from 2 p.m. to 7 pm., the college will have its first-ever Pumpkin Chuckin’ event. Ben Harris, WSCO staffer and event organizer, said the college has planned activities to fill the day with lots of family fun—everything from live music, games, food trucks, and of course, the hurling of pumpkins into the great beyond.
“This is a free community event that not only will be great entertainment, but a fun way to get people excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math because flinging pumpkins demands lots of STEM knowledge,” Harris explained.
The college has constructed a catapult that, depending on a variety of factors including size, weight, and weather conditions, will chuck the pumpkins by as much as 300 feet. Harris said that as a safety precaution, all pumpkins will be directed to a wooded area of campus. He also added that there are weight restrictions on what can be launched. So, for those who plan to bring their pumpkins, they need to weigh 5 pounds or more to be signed up to launch.
Harris added that if you don’t have a pumpkin to bring, that’s not a problem. Thanks to the generous donation of pumpkins from local farms and businesses, there are going to be plenty of gourds to go around.
The college hopes to make this an annual event and is already looking into ways to incorporate a competitive section to the chuckin’. “This is our inaugural year and if everything goes well this year, I’m certain it will only get bigger and better next year,” Harris concluded.
For more details about WSCO’s Pumpkin Chuckin’ event, visit wscc.edu/pumpkin-chuckin
