Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival

01/24/2026

VTPC is a showcase for the best of the best...

Trebuchets started as massive medieval weapons used to break castle walls, powered by nothing but gravity. Over time, people began building smaller versions ...

12/31/2025

There is no better way to end the year (or to start the new year) than to support organizations that are working to create safe and healthy communities. Contributions to Clarina can be made at www.clarina.org. Thank you for your support!

10/15/2025

We have finally posted the official results of the 16th VTPC on our blog. Thank you again to everyone!

🎃 Results of the 16th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival — September 28, 2025 Under blue skies and warm sunshine, the Stowe Events ...

10/06/2025

Great performance. Congratulations, Vermont State University - Randolph Campus

09/28/2025

So our 16th Annual Festival is about to begin shortly. The weather looks great and the gates are about to open, so we hope to see you all over here at Stowe Events Field, 120 Weeks Hill Rd., in Stowe, Vermont. Parking is free. Let's have a great day.

09/23/2025

So we asked the AI: "When is Chili Season?"

The answer was: "Chili season isn’t tied to a specific date but typically peaks in fall and winter, especially from September to February in the Northern Hemisphere. This is when cooler weather makes hearty, warm dishes like chili most appealing."

So we are happy to kick off Chili Season at our 16th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival with a tasty Chili Cook-Off!

To compete in the Chili Cook-Off - Bring two gallons of chili (and a crock pot to keep it warm) to the event by 11:30am.

Beginning at noon, event attendees pay $5 to taste samples of the chili and vote for their favorite. The top three vote-getters receive cash prizes of $100, $50, and $25.

The $10 event entrance fee is waived for chili competitors.

09/22/2025

** ATTENTION ALL COMPETITORS** Please arrive between 10:00 am and 11:00 am on Sunday so you can get set up and have your trebuchet weighed, measured, and safety checked so we can begin the competition promptly at 12:30. Thank you

09/19/2025

This year's craft fair is shaping up to be our best ever.

Daily Mantra 🫶🏻💖🫶🏻

Private ✨SPARKLE✨ sessions are full this week. No events this weekend. Some much needed R&R along with Mr. Fairy Kat 😂 🍁🎃🍂🌾

September 27th at Bristol Harvest Festival 2025 10-4 🌾🍂🍁

September 28th at Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival 10-4 ✨🍁🍂🎃

October 5th at Vision Nutrition for the Merchants Row Bridal Expo! 9-1230 👰🏻 💐 🧋

October 12th at Empower Nutrition 10-1 🧋 💖

09/01/2025

Hi Everyone,

The 16th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival is only 27 days away!

That leaves plenty of summer weeks to build your trebuchet and chuck your way to fame and riches. $200 top prize for best trebuchet design, $100 for the winner of each division, and $100 to the winner of the Citizen’s Choice Chili Cookoff.

Here is our press release talking about all the great stuff going on at the festival:

16th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin Festival

Held at the Stowe Events Field, Weeks Hill Road in Stowe, VT
Proceeds of the September 28th event to benefit the Clarina Howard Nichols Center

Stowe, Vermont, Aug 27, 2025: This year marks 16 years of the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival, which was awarded USA Today’s best fall festival in the nation. This festival celebrates the sport of chucking pumpkins for distance, using a do-it-yourself constructed trebuchet, which is a gravity-powered catapult. The event is a cross between a Soap Box Derby competition involving amateur building skills and a shot put contest. This is a great opportunity for kids and adults to design and build something and engage in some family-friendly competition.

The festival is a one-day event that benefits the Clarina Howard Nichols Center, which works to end domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and stalking in Lamoille County.

The festival runs from 11am to 4pm and features 3 rounds of chuckin at 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm, with awards short after the last round. Prizes are awarded in each division: heavyweight, middleweight open, middleweight junior, and lightweight. The winner of each division receives $100, and the best design receives an extra $100 prize.

Admission to the festival is $10, with children 5 years and younger admitted for free. Parking is free. Handicap parking is available, but seating is not provided. Feel free to bring chairs or blankets. No dogs, outside food, or beverages are allowed at the event.

Admission is free if you enter the Chili Cookoff. To enter, bring 2 gallons of chili in a crock pot. Attendees will pay to sample the various chilis and vote for their favorites. Chili must be on-site by 11:30am. The top three chilis will win a cash prize ($100, $50, and $25).

Bring your appetite for 6 food trucks and your craft appreciation for over 40 craft vendors. Rounding out the action are 2 bands (OK Commuter and John Smyth), children’s activities, and a volleyball tournament featuring the best players in the state.

The current record for the heavyweight division is a whopping 879 feet, almost 3 football fields!

INFO: Specifications, rules, and entry information can be found on the festival blog at VTPumpkinChuckin.blogspot.com or contact the festival organizer at [email protected].

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact person: Dave Jordan
phone: (603) 630-4800
email: [email protected]
blog: VTPumpkinChuckin.blogspot.com
Charity: Clarina Howard Nichols Center, Morrisville, VT

07/12/2025

The bottomline is that we should all eat more pumpkin. https://scitechdaily.com/pumpkin-power-7-reasons-why-this-squash-is-a-superfood/
🎃👍

Pumpkins are packed with vital nutrients like vitamin A, offer potent antioxidant properties, and can even support heart health. This fall favorite isn't just for decoration—it's a superfood with science-backed benefits. Ah, pumpkins! Most of us associate them with autumn festivities, spooky carv