People’s Choice Chili Cook-off Contest

A reminder that the People's Choice Chili Cook-off Contest is open to one and all at this year's VTPC.

For the sixth year in a row, the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin Festival is proud to offer a People’s Choice Chili Contest. The festival is at Stoweflake Mountain Resort on Sunday, Sept 29th,2019. Whip up 2 gallons of your best chili and you get in for free AND a chance to win $100 if your chili is voted best!

Rules:

1. Each competitor must supply at least 2 gallons of chili to be judged by the people.
2. Each competitor must supply an electric crockpot to keep the chili warm. Electricity and a test will be provided.
3. Event is held rain or shine, Sunday, Sept 29th, 2019.
4. Contest will start at 12:15pm and end roughly at 2:30, or when chili runs out.
5. Samplers, bowls, napkins and spoons will be provided.
6. Preregistration is encouraged, but not required.
7. If you plan to compete, please email Dave Jordan (organizer) the following information to DJordan@gmavt.net.

• a. Name
• b. Team Name (Optional)
• c. Email address
• d. Telephone number
• e. Chili Recipe name and description
• f. Ingredients (Optional)

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updated Final Throw:

Thanks for putting us on the list!

NewEngland.com:
5 Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England --

Looking for phenomenal fall celebrations? These annual events are the 5 best pumpkin festivals in New England!

• Pumpkintown USA | East Hampton, CT | September 21-October 31, 2019
• NH Pumpkin Festival | Laconia, NH | October 18-19, 2019
• Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival | Stowe, VT | September 29, 2019
• Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular | Providence, RI | October 3 – November 3, 2019
• Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta | Damariscotta, ME | October 11-14, 2019

World's Simplest and Newest Trebuchet (Walking Arm Trebuchet)

We recently received a very informative and interesting email from Jonathan Stapleton our 2018 VTPC Heavyweight Champion and current world record holder (700 feet). His son, Orion Stapleton, won last year's Lightweight Division and the overall Grand Championship for Best Design of a trebuchet. Orion's lightweight trebuchet, named Demolisher, demolished the competition with a throw of 266 feet, which was 180 feet better than the 2nd place competitor. Orion's trebuchet also beat the 200 foot lightweight world record that his sister, Emmerson Stapleton, had held since 2016 with her "Destroyer" trebuchet. At the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' competition lightweight trebuchets are required to weigh less than 20 lbs. and be under 41" in height.

The Stapleton's have achieved their dominance of the VTPC competition over the years with a very unique and innovative trebuchet design called the "Walking Arm Trebuchet." This design looks so simple and straightforward that almost anyone should be able to build one.

The Stapleton's have graciously published an excellent Instructables.com article showing and explaining how to build this incredible trebuchet. You should all check it out.

By Mr. Stapleton / Instructables.com:

World's Simplest and Newest Trebuchet (Walking Arm Trebuchet) --

This is the world premier of our new trebuchet design. Not only is the trebuchet simple, it is extremely efficient. It has many of the advantages of a floating arm trebuchet, but with fewer parts, less friction, and a unique projectile launch path. As you can see in my son's video, above, the projectile never swings backward beyond its starting point, reducing the dangers to bystanders behind the trebuchet....

Stapleton Walking Arm Trebuchet

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Final Throw:

A big hat tip and thank you to Boston.com.

Thanks for recognizing our win in the USA Today Best Fall Festival. And for talking up some other great New England Fall festivals:

USA Today readers say this New England fall festival is the best in America

The Hackaday website did a very nice review of the Stapleton Trebuchet:
Walking Arm Trebuchet is different, but effective by Lewin Day

"uses an unconventional design to great effect..."

BTW, there are now only 17 days 'till the 11th Annual VTPC at Stoweflake Mountain Resort

2019 VTPC Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Person: Dave Jordan
Phone: 603-630-4800
Email: Djordan@gmavt.net
Website: VTPumpkinChuckin.blogspot.com
Charity name: Clarina Howard Nichols Center, Morrisville, VT

11th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin Festival

Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa to Host 2019 Festival

Proceeds of Sept. 29th event to benefit Clarina Howard Nichols Center

Stowe, Vermont, Aug. 29, 2019 – This year marks 11 years of the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’
(VTPC) Festival and the first year that the festival was awarded the Best Fall Festival in the nation by USA Today! This festival celebrates the sport of “chuckin’” pumpkins, for distance, using a do-it-yourself constructed trebuchet, which is a gravity-powered catapult. Festival founder Dave Jordan describes the event as a cross between a Soap Box Derby (amateur building/engineering) and a shot put contest (throwing for distance). The event is a great opportunity for kids of all ages to build something with their hands and engage in some family friendly competition. Last year, Orion Stapleton was the first kid competing in the Lightweight category to win the overall contest with a new record of 780 feet (scaled up to Heavyweight); beating his dad Jonathan Stapleton who ONLY threw 700 feet.

The VTPC Festival is a one-day event and is sponsored by the Stoweflake Resort and Spa and many other local sponsors. The event benefits the Clarina Howard Nichols Center. Founded in 1981, the Center works to end domestic and sexual violence in Lamoille County. Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 29th, 2019.

The Festival runs from 11am to 4pm and features three rounds of competitive pumpkin chuckin’ at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm, with awards shortly after the last round. No dogs, outside food or beverage are allowed at the event.

Admission to the Festival is $10.00 and parking is free. Food, beer and wine will be sold by
Stoweflake.

Along with the pumpkin chuckin’ contest there will be music, a chili cook-off, and kids activities;
all creating an enjoyable fall day. Music for this year's festival will be provided by two bands: House Dunn and John Smyth. No preregistration is required for the trebuchet contest or chili cookoff. There is plenty of time to build a fine trebuchet, or prepare your best chili for the chili
cookoff.

It costs $10 to enter the festival if you are a spectator or trebuchet competitor, but you get in free if you make 2 gallons of chili and compete in the chili cookoff.

INFO: Specifications, rules, and entry information can be found on the festival's website at www.vtpumpkinchuckin.blogspot.com or contact the festival organizer Dave Jordan at DJordan@GMAVT.com

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Official Rules for competitors

It's Final: The Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival is Number 1 Fan Favorite Fall Festival in USA

Thanks to all our friends, relatives, volunteers, friends of friends, friends of relatives, and all our passionate fans, who voted us the number one US Fall Festival in the month long USA Today, 10Best.com, Best Fall Festival Contest.

Out of the twenty contestants we finished number one overall. Here are your top ten winners:

1. Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival, Stowe, Vermont
2. West Side Nut Club Fall Festival (IN)
3. Trailing of the Sheep Festival (ID)
4. Great Cortland Pumpkinfest (NY)
5. National Apple Harvest Festival (PA) 
6. NH Pumpkin Festival (NH)
7. Warrens Cranberry Festival (WI)
8. Columbus Oktoberfest (OH)
9. Hood River Valley Harvest Fest (OR) 
10. Sonoma County Harvest Fair (CA)
    
    

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

These are all some really fun and interesting festivals.

USA Today's email that notified us of the winning results said:

Since this nomination was carefully made by an expert panel, and the public voted for this honor, you have earned some serious bragging rights!

Thank you very much. Yes, we might just make mention of this win.

Thanks again to everyone. There are now only 23 days until the 11th VTPC on Sunday, September 29th, at Stoweflake Mountain Resort. See you all there!