New Albany Pumpkin Chunking

Purdue Polytechnic New Albany will host Purdue Pumpkin Chunking Tuesday, October 14th, 2025.

We're so excited to welcome you back for a friendly competition launching 7 to 10 lb. pumpkins at a target 100 yards away! If you haven't been to the event, ... it's a great time to get involved! Or maybe just come out to watch! 

Think you can build a trebuchet? Can you hit the Great Pumpkin target from up to 100 yards away?  Let’s find out!  Polytechnic New Albany has resources to help – we teach engineering and would love to help you get your team started.  You just need a can-do attitude, basic construction skills and the desire to have fun!  Each team gets 3 attempts using supplied pumpkins.  All machines must use gravity (falling weights) as their only source of power; pass safety and functionality checks; and be ready for competition at their start times. Awards for accuracy, originality, and efficiency will be presented at 7:00 p.m.  

Is building a trebuchet not your thing?  Watching is a whole lot of fun too!  Besides the Pumpkin Chunking competition, we’ll also have food trucks, displays from local organizations, free pumpkin painting, and other activities for the kids! 

Thanks to Duke Energy for continued support of Purdue Polytechnic New Albany!

Event Details

• Tuesday, October 14th, 2025
  • Setup and practice: Noon - 3 PM
  • Open to the public: 4:00 PM (parking, food trucks, booths)
  • Qualifying: 4:30 PM
  • Competition: 6 PM
  • Awards: 7 PM
• Two divisions: High School (75 yards) and Adult (100 yards)
• 7 to 10 lb pumpkins are supplied by Harvest Homecoming
• Each team gets 3 attempts to hit the target
• All machines must use gravity (falling weights) as their only source of power, pass safety and functionality checks, and be ready for competition at their start times
• Awards for accuracy, originality, and efficiency will be presented

2024 Winners

High School Division

• Accuracy: Prosser Pumpkin Chunkers – Prosser Career Education Center

Adult Division

• Accuracy: The Punkin Chunkers – Purdue Polytechnic Institute - SME
• Efficiency: Team Stacy – Ed Carlisle
• Originality:  Knightmare – Ed Carlisle

For more information, please contact

Joseph F. Dues, Jr. , PE Associate Professor – Mechanical Engineering Technology
Director – Purdue Polytechnic New Albany
jdues@purdue.edu
o: 765-494-7769   m: 502-939-3871