Route 66 Punkin Chunkin “Shootin’ on the Route” Lets Fly on Saturday, Oct. 27

Hosted by the Vinita Area Chamber of Commerce, the fourth annual Route 66 Punkin Chunkin “Shootin’ on the Route” Festival is set for Saturday, Oct. 27.

Stop by and discover for yourself the fun of chunking pumpkins. Once you’ve witnessed the pure fun of seeing pumpkins launched across the sky, the month of October will never again be complete without a pumpkin or two taking flight.

The public is invited to watch as teams launch pumpkins through the air from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at John’s Tractor Works & Equipment, 444934 U.S. Highway 60/66, three miles east of Vinita.

The challenge is simple: who can chunk a pumpkin the farthest. Catapults and trebuchets (among other machines) will all be found on the firing line. Categories will include youth, amateur and professional, meaning multiple teams will proudly get to call themselves chunker champions. The event is a great opportunity for kids of all ages to build something with their hands and engage in some friendly competition.

The Punkin Chunkin is more than a high-flying competition. It’s a fun-filled festival, including food trucks, arts and crafts vendors and entertainment. A new feature this year is a Dutch oven cooking competition. Free activities for the kids include pumpkin bowling, pumpkin decorating, face painting and more.

General admission is $5.00. Children four and under are free. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.

For more information, call the Vinita Area Chamber of Commerce at (918) 256-7133, email chamber@vinita.com or visit the Route 66 Punkin Chunkin Facebook page.