The country’s signature pumpkin-launching event is coming to Champaign County in November.
The World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association will conduct its event at the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul on Nov. 2-3.
“This is the first time the World Championships have ever been held out of the state of Delaware,” said Frank Payton III, president of the WCPCA, which started more than 35 years ago. “With a new location, new vendors, and new volunteers — among other things — we want to give this event the absolute best chance for success.”
Currently 30 machines have signed up to participate in this year’s event, but there are still spaces available for those interested. As in the past, there will be three competition shots by each machine to determine the 2019 world champion. Two shots will be fired on Saturday and the final competition shot will be fired on Sunday with the champion being crowned that evening.
The World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association is a trademark, all-volunteer nonprofit that raises money for scholarships as well as organizations that benefit the local community. It hosts a signature pumpkin-launching event each year, fueling innovative engineering and science-based ideas that draw spectators from all over.
A weekend pass is $20 and daily passes can be purchased online for $10 per day in advance. Daily passes the day of the event will be $15 per day (cash only). Children under 10 are free. For those that purchased an early bird weekend pass, $5 per pass will be refunded within the next 10 days. (The event was previously scheduled over three days and is not shortened to two.)
The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur will be the Official Pumpkin Supplier for the world championship.
Visit the website for tickets and more information on the Punkin Chunkin.