Punkin Chunkin is no longer grounded.
The gourd flying event will join NASCAR, Firefly, and the Big Barrel Music Festival on the list of events hosted at Dover International Speedway.
The 2015 event will take place Nov. 7-8 on speedway grounds.
Punkin Chunkin had been held in Delaware since 1986 but was postponed last year because of the logistics involved in moving the event from its previous home in Sussex County.
Event spokesman Frank Shade says Punkin Chunkin’s cancellation was a big blow to fans and its participants.
"The chunkers themselves were devastated because in our thirty year history, just like people of the postal service, our pumpkins fly no matter what the weather," Shade said. "So it was quite devastating to us, not to mention the devastation that it imposed on the charities that routinely count on our donations.”
The event supports several local and national organizations including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Meals On Wheels, and Autism Delaware.
It sees teams from around the world compete in the sport of hurling a pumpkin solely by mechanical means. Some devices used include slingshots and catapults.
This year however, pumpkins will not be thrown for distance.
Shade says that’s due to the layout of the property and its large amount of tree cover.
“The people want to see the pumpkins fly and if we’re throwing them over trees or at a distance at which they can’t see them fly, you know, it's kind of disappointing to them," said Shade. "So this year we’re going old school. We’re going to throw as many pumpkins as we can get in the air and they’re going to be at distances that people can see.”
Tickets are on sale now for $10 per person per day, with early bird two-day passes available for $16 per person. Tent and RV camping options are also available.
More information is available at www.PunkinChunkin.com.