🎃 Results of the 16th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival — September 28, 2025
Under blue skies and warm sunshine, the Stowe Events Field came alive for the 16th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival — and what a day it was! Thousands gathered to celebrate Vermont’s most unique fall tradition of trebuchet-powered pumpkin hurling, friendly competition, local food, music, and family fun.
This year’s festival featured 12 teams of pumpkin chuckers with 14 trebuchets, 6 chili cook-off competitors, 22 volleyball teams, 8 food vendors, 38 craft vendors, 33 business sponsors, and 50 incredible volunteers. A record-breaking 2,500 spectators joined the festivities — making this the biggest year yet.
Together, we raised $40,557 for the Clarina Howard Nichols Center, a Lamoille County nonprofit dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence. The funds came from entrance fees, sponsorships, merchandise sales, the chili cook-off, craft fair vendor fees, and generous on-site donations. Huge thanks to Executive Director Becky Gonyea and her team for organizing and running the festival for the seventh consecutive year!
🏆 Highlights & Competition Results
A New Champion in the Heavyweight Division
Three-time defending champion Jonathan Stapleton — holder of the world record throw of 879 feet — brought his famous 450-pound counterweighted trebuchet to defend his title. But in a dramatic twist, his machine’s arm snapped on the first launch, paving the way for Vermont State University–Randolph captain Keith Carrara to seize victory and claim the Heavyweight Division title!
Grand Prize: Best Design
Even after his heavyweight heartbreak, Jonathan Stapleton still earned top honors for Best Design, thanks to his Merlin-style trebuchet in the Middleweight Division, which achieved a scaled distance of 647 feet. This marks Stapleton’s fourth Grand Prize, the most in festival history!
🎯 Division Winners
Lightweight Open Division
🥇 Roger Duhamel — “Old Man’s Bucket List II”
Middleweight Junior Division
🥇 Douglas Kussius — “Mango Tango”
🥈 Caleb Bourdeau — “Let It Fly”
Middleweight Open Division
🥇 Jonathan Stapleton — “Merlin” (also Best Design)
🥈 Tyler Barnard — “Just Keep Chuckin’”
🥉 Jonathan Stapleton — “Merlin CVT”
Heavyweight Division
🥇 Keith Carrara — Vermont State University (Randolph) “Pumpkin Chucker”
🥈 Nicholas Helms — “5.2”
⚙️ How the Scoring Works
All trebuchets compete within height and weight limits for fairness. Exceeding those limits results in adjusted distances — so precision engineering matters as much as raw power! The coveted Best Design award is determined by scaling each division’s winning throw based on height ratios, ensuring that every trebuchet, big or small, competes on equal footing.
👷♂️ Honoring Our Veteran Builders
After sixteen years, the festival proudly recognizes the dedicated builders who keep the pumpkins flying year after year:
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Nicholas Helms (VT) – Competed in 15 of 16 festivals, known for his inventive designs and medieval flair.
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The Stapleton Family (VT) – Eleven-time competitors; the innovative “walking arm” design has dominated since 2016.
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Dave Jordan (VT) – Organizer and ten-time competitor (and occasional accidental vertical launcher!).
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Don & Chris Jordan (NY) – Nine-time competitors and 2014 Best Design winners.
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Steve & Steven McCann (ME) – Nine appearances, multiple wins, and unmatched enthusiasm.
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Ray & Ed Chamberlain (NH) – Eight-time competitors, including 2017’s Best Design winner.
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Chris McGrody (NH) – Seven appearances; first heavyweight to win Best Design (2015).
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Tim Brown & Family (MA) – Seven-time competitors and pioneers of team t-shirts!
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And many more — including repeat winners and creative newcomers who embody the spirit of friendly engineering and fall fun.
🌶️ Chili Cook-Off Champions
With six delicious entries, attendees sampled five chili recipes for $5 and cast their votes:
🥇 Carter Peck — #5 ($100)
🥈 Ann Brever — #6 ($50)
🥉 Eric Halperin — #2 ($25)
🏐 Volleyball Tournament
The Fourth Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Invitational Volleyball Quads Tournament, organized by Bill Orleans of Green Mountain Volleyball, drew 22 top-tier teams from Vermont, New York, and Montreal.
🥇 Ryan Rabidou, Kevin Devine, Taj Schottland, and Nick Pizzuti
🍴 Food, Crafts & Music
Festivalgoers enjoyed delicious eats from Hook & Peel Pizza, El Gato Cantina, Maharaja Spice, The Better Kettle, Mediterranean Mix, Street Treats Ice Cream, and Jenna’s Promise Roasting Co.
The 2nd Annual Craft Fair featured 38 talented artisans, offering everything from pottery and maple products to photography, jewelry, and woodworking.
Music filled the air all day with John Smyth’s singer-songwriter set opening the morning, followed by the upbeat rhythms of Ok Commuter, keeping the energy high as pumpkins soared.
🐢 Dolores the Tortoise Returns!
Beloved local celebrity Dolores the Tortoise, along with her owner Kelly Goosecock, delighted attendees for the third year in a row. She remains the festival’s only official animal guest!
🙏 Thank You to Our Volunteers & Sponsors
This festival thrives thanks to our 50 dedicated volunteers who made everything possible — from setup and cleanup to parking, kids’ activities, and measuring those all-important throws. Special thanks to announcer John Prittie and the youth volunteers from Peoples Academy and Stowe High School.
Heavyweight Sponsors
Community National Bank • Fidium Fiber • Maggie McLeod Macdonald Fund • Nichols & Bates, P.C. • Three Mountain Roofing
Middleweight Sponsors
10 Railroad Street • Coldwell Banker Carlson Real Estate • Donald P. Blake Jr. Inc. • Piecasso • Smugglers’ Notch Resort • Union Bank • Vermont Electric Cooperative • and more
Lightweight Sponsors
Bourne’s Energy • Casella Waste Systems • El Gato Cantina • Hook & Peel • Maharaja Spice • Street Treats Ice Cream • The Better Kettle • and many others who helped make this event a success.
📅 Save the Date: September 27, 2026
Mark your calendars! The 17th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Stowe Events Field. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates as the date approaches.
For more details:
📧 Dave Jordan – Festival Organizer
📰 Blog: VTPumpkinChuckin.blogspot.com
📩 Email: Djordan@gmavt.net
