PUNKIN CHUNKIN FESTIVAL IN CLAY COUNTY NC

PUNKIN CHUNKIN FESTIVAL IN CLAY COUNTY NC

OCTOBER 21 - 23, 2011

If you’re looking for something fun and unusual to do one weekend in October, then perhaps you should head to the mountains and plan to attend the Annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival in Clay County, North Carolina.

Sponsored by the Clay County NC Chamber of Commerce, this three-day event will feature live music and entertainment, mountain craft vendors, food (of course), a Chili Cook-Off, an Anything Punkin’ Bake-off and, needless to say, lots of chunkin’ of the punkins!!!

So, exactly WHAT IS Punkin’ Chunkin’ you ask?? It started in 1986 when a group of men in a Delaware blacksmith shop began to argue about who could throw something the farthest. The challenge was on and the men began to create their machines. In November of that year the first Punkin’ Chunkin’ contest was held with three teams and limited spectators. The event grew and spread into other areas. The World Champion Punkin Chunkin Association (WCPCA) was formed and last year thousands of teams competed in sanctioned events across the continent. There’s even an authorized book that details the History of Punkin Chunkin’.

What do you use to chunk a punkin??

Whatever contraption, similar to a trebuchet, you can dream up and build to catapult your punkin the longest distance and take home the coveted trophy.

As you can just imagine

some of the contraptions are pretty outrageous.

Hayesville, the seat of Clay County, is just a short 15 mile drive from Murphy, NC and only about 9 miles from Hiawasssee, Georgia. So there's plenty to do and see while you're here. Give us a call or email us and we'll be happy to make recommendations for lodging or tell you about great places to eat.

Don’t miss out on the fun this year - go Punkin' Chunkin'!

Bill and Cyndi