About the Pumpkin Chuck Festival

Welcome to the Pumpkin Chuck Festival, a unique and exciting event that brings the community together for fun, food, and flying pumpkins! Here’s a bit more about the history of our festival and the engineering marvels behind the pumpkin launches.

Event History

The Pumpkin Chuck Festival started 18 years ago as a small community gathering in Mt. Washington. Over the years, it has grown into a highly anticipated annual event, drawing crowds from all over Cincinnati and beyond. We celebrate the fall season with medieval-style siege engines, delicious food, craft beer, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities each year. The funds raised from the event help support Stanbery Park and various community projects.

View Photos
Learn About Composting

What is a Trebuchet?

A trebuchet is a medieval siege engine used to hurl projectiles over long distances. Unlike a catapult, which uses tension to launch its payload, a trebuchet relies on a counterweight system. When the counterweight is released, it swings a long arm that propels the projectile — in our case, pumpkins — through the air. Fun fact: All trebuchets are catapults, but not all catapults are trebuchets!

Our Trebuchets

At the Pumpkin Chuck Festival, we feature three trebuchets:

  • Treb One
  • Baby Treb
  • The Trebinator

These impressive machines are operated by trained volunteers who ensure safe and thrilling pumpkin launches throughout the event. Each trebuchet is uniquely designed to maximize distance and accuracy, making for an exciting spectacle, especially when they hit one of our amazing custom targets.

Engineering Marvels

Building and operating a trebuchet requires a deep understanding of physics and engineering principles. Our team of experts, led by local resident and trebuchet enthusiast Mark Lorenz, dedicates countless hours to preparing these machines for the festival. Every detail is meticulously crafted to ensure maximum performance and safety, from balancing the counterweights to fine-tuning the release mechanisms.

Join us at the Pumpkin Chuck Festival to witness these engineering marvels in action and enjoy a day filled with fun and community spirit.