Questions? Call (309) 266-5135 or email Susan at spyles@morton-il.gov

What to expect at Punkin Chuckin'

Here in Morton we love to throw pumpkins. This is a contest for distance. But we also have a lot of time to throw for fun. We will have cars in the middle of the field to use for targets, and we pick about 400 pumpkins for the 2 days of throwing.

On Saturday...

On Friday teams may arrive and set up their machines, but most come on Saturday morning at 6 A.M. and begin put their machines together. About 8 am they begin to check in at registration and they can then choose their 3 pumpkins they need for their official distance tosses.

The youth team’s pumpkins must weigh between 5 and 8 lbs. the adult teams must weigh between 8 and 10 lbs. Each team is given a color for their pumpkins to be spray painted so we can tell them apart in the field when they are in pieces. At 10 AM there is a mandatory safety meeting that all of the teams must attend.

While this is going on we hold the “Hand Tossed Contest”. This contest is for young and old. From the pile of pumpkins folks choose a pumpkin and bring it to the registration booth and pay $1.00 to enter. We call out the names in the order that they registrar and each one tosses the pumpkin as far as they can. Everyone gets candy and the winner gets a prize. This usually takes until about 11 am.

At that time the Chuckers have had their safety checks done and we begin tossing pumpkins for fun so people can adjust their machines. Around noon we begin the distance tosses. Starting at the youth end of the field and working toward the adult machines each takes 1 shot. Depending on how many machines we have, we will either go back to the front of the line and let everyone take another shot or take a short break so they can throw for fun.

By the end of the day the youth machines will have thrown 3 competition shots and the adult machines will have thrown 2. We give out the prizes for the youth winners and then machines can stay and throw until dark, if they want.

On Sunday...

On Sunday we start a little later. Some of the youth machines can only come for 1 day, so some of them might have left and some new ones might have arrived.

We have a whole new contest for the youth machines. They have a safety meeting at 10 am, and we have a “Hand Tossed Contest” about 11 am as soon as the safety meeting is done the shooting for fun begins, and then around noon we begin the distance tosses.

This year Hippie Radio is conducting their own contest, the details will be announced Sunday, we are sure it will be fun!!

Starting at the youth end of the field and working toward the adult machines each takes 1 shot. Depending on how many machines we have, we will either go back to the front of the line and let everyone take another shot or take a short break so they can throw for fun.

By the end of the day the youth machines will have thrown 3 competition shots and the adult machines will have thrown the last of their 3 shots. We give out the prizes for the winners and then machines usually begin tearing down so they can travel home. If you come out to Punkin Chuckin it will cost you $5.00 to park your car. You must park your car in the designated field and no cars can be parked on any of the roads. Even though we are out in the country, the traffic on the roads move very fast and we don’t want anyone to get hurt.

What does it cost?

Once you are here, the Chuckin excitement is free, but there is great food, Punkin Chuckin shirts, hats and memorabilia, fall decorations and some games for the children that cost extra. It is a good idea to bring lawn chairs as seating is scarce. This is a pretty laidback activity. We will have an announcer informing you as to what will be happening thru out the day. It is a wonderful family activity.

Hope to see you there. If you have any questions, you can call us at (309) 266-5135 or email spyles@morton-il.gov.