Smashing Pumpkins

Oct 3 & 17: Forget carving pumpkins into spooky jack-o’-lanterns. Glenn Battschinger and other competitors in the second annual New Jersey Hurl (Oct 3 at Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm) would rather see how far pumpkins can fly.

Posted September 14, 2009 by Emily Faherty

Photo by Nancy Maslowas.

Oct 3 & 17: Forget carving pumpkins into spooky jack-o’-lanterns. Glenn Battschinger and other competitors in the second annual New Jersey Hurl (Oct 3 at Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm) would rather see how far pumpkins can fly.

The contest was inspired by a 2007 Boy Scout engineering project, in which Battschinger’s troop ditched plans for a simple milk carton catapult to create a 9,000-pound medieval-style trebuchet instead. Modeling his competition after Delaware’s Punkin Chunkin, Battschinger brought this “zany idea” to South Jersey last year.

“Most people think you’re a total nut,” he says. “But once you fling that pumpkin 2,000 feet, they take you pretty seriously.” 11 am–3 pm; $5 (benefits the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital). 5800 White Horse Pike, Mullica Township (njhurl.com).

NJ Hurl’s torsion catapult (one of six in the United States) will also be in action at the Flying Pumpkin Festival (Oct 17 at Peaceful Valley Orchards), which benefits America’s Grow-A-Row, and features races, a cake walk, pumpkin picking, and other children’s activities. 10 am–4 pm; free. 150 Pittstown Rd, Pittstown (908-236-0362).

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