After pandemic, insurance costs, lawsuits, Punkin Chunkin contest moves to Oklahoma

Hannah Edelman, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read

After a three-year hiatus, the annual Punkin Chunkin World Championship will return in October. Unfortunately, the pumpkin-launching competition will not be coming back to its home state of Delaware.

The event, which was started in Milton in 1986, invites teams to compete to see who can build a machine to launch a pumpkin the farthest. Acceptable machines include catapults, air cannons and trebuchets, and record-holders have successfully chucked pumpkins nearly 4,700 feet.

This year's event will be held in Vinita, Oklahoma — about an hour outside Tulsa — on Oct. 28. Registration is still open.

Teams compete at the World Championship Punkin Chunkin held on Chaplains Chapel Road near Bridgeville in November 2013 as the team of Young Glory from Lewes was in the lead with a chunk of over 3,500 feet.
Teams compete at the World Championship Punkin Chunkin held on Chaplains Chapel Road near Bridgeville in November 2013 as the team of Young Glory from Lewes was in the lead with a chunk of over 3,500 feet.

Although the Punkin Chunkin organizers have said in the past that they want to keep the event as close to Delmarva as possible, the organization has had to look elsewhere to find more "favorable liability laws."

Delaware has no laws limiting the amount for which an individual or organization can be sued, even with insurance in place and waivers signed. Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, a Georgetown Republican, previously tried to introduce legislation that would add limits to such lawsuits when the incidents take place at certain nonprofit events, including Punkin Chunkin. The measure never passed.

This fan was ready for the 26th annual Punkin Chunkin on Nov. 5, 2011.
This fan was ready for the 26th annual Punkin Chunkin on Nov. 5, 2011.

Insurance costs led to the cancellation of Punkin Chunkin for the two years leading up to 2019, when the championship returned and was hosted in Rantoul, Illinois. It garnered far less turnout than past contests in Sussex County.

MORE: Punkin Chunkin sets hopes on Maryland, Virginia for 2022 event

Punkin Chunkin states in the contest's waiver form that the nature of the competition makes it "inherently dangerous." The organization has been sued multiple times over the years, including by a television producer who was seriously injured while broadcasting the event after being struck in the head by a metal plate that flew off an air cannon.

Punkin Chunkin did not respond to requests for comment.

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Punkin Chunkin moves to Oklahoma after lawsuits, insurance costs