Bloomington Pumpkin Launch
By Emerson Kester
Fall is here and pumpkins are flying through the skies over the Monroe County Fairgrounds 5700 W. Airport Rd. in Bloomington!
Launcher teams will be sending amazing pumpkins soaring through the air in competitions for long distance and accuracy. Teams from all around Bloomington (and probably all around the world too!) will be getting their teams ready for this event.
Even YOU can get a team together to build and enter a pumpkin launching device,you can have no more than six but if you aren't much of a builder then you can watch the competitions, and see pumpkins splatter to the ground when they drop them from a bucket truck!
The activities begin at 11 a.m., and pumpkin launching begins at noon. Remember, To get into this amazing event the spectator admission is $10 per vehicle so… CARPOOL TIME!
The pumpkin launching is just one part of the family-friendly fun. Activities include hands-on games prepared by students from Indiana University's Event Planning & Program Development course, pumpkin drops from Parks and Recreation's bucket truck by "Team Bob", STEM-related activities with the IU School of Education's Uplands Maker Mobile, and an Extraterrestrial Encounter Showdown game for children, and just the amazing festive feel of fall.
Two teams have already registered for this year's competition: the Youth Division's Soaring Squash, using a catapult, and the Adult Division's Tetanus Express, using a trebuchet. The Tetanus Express, a trebuchet built from mobile home and car parts, will also compete for the 13th time.
A variety of concessions are also available for purchase on site from food trucks, including Kona Ice, Fried Hoosier Food Truck, and Uno Mas Taco Truck. Live music is also available by Chris Dollar, which takes place during the pumpkin launching. Bring a lawn chair, sit back, and be amazed by the launch devices that were so beautifully handmade!
Don’t forget, this fascinating event is Saturday, Oct. 21! The Bloomington Launch will also happen regardless of weather conditions. This amazing event is organized by Parks and Recreation in collaboration with the Monroe County Fairgrounds and sponsored by Gigabit Now.
Author Bio: Emerson Kester (Emi) is an 11 year old girl who loves dogs, swimming, reading, and playing video games.