We stood in line for two hours for our turn. They ran out of hot dogs at the concession stand and I had foolishly not thought to pack any food. And yet, we all agreed – the wait was well worth it. For what? To decorate and then launch our pumpkins across a field to a giant billboard target using a medieval catapult called a trebuchet at the annual Smashing Pumpkins festival at the Cumberland Village Heritage Museum.
First, you decorate while you wait for your turn.
Simon’s says, “I have a death sentence” on one side and “Simon wuz here” on the other.
Not to be outdone, Tristan’s says “I believe I can fly.” (I do love their senses of humour, my boys.)
After almost an entire afternoon of waiting, it was finally our turn!
You yank on the cord, which pulls out the pin, which releases the lever that is counterweighted on the opposite end. Gravity works its magic and the non-counterweighted end of the lever flings the pumpkin, tucked securely into a little hammock, to sail across the field toward the target.
After each launching one, I let the boys launch mine together.
Can you see the incoming pumpkin?
Bulls-eye!! (Ahem, this may or may not have been MY pumpkin. We watched probably a hundred pumpkins get launched, and I was thrilled to capture this photo of one of the ten or so we actually saw hit the bulls-eye!)
Is that crazy fun or what? Beloved is Googling “backyard trebuchet” so we don’t have to wait in such a long line next year. Sorry neighbours – you’ve been warned!
Disclosure: The City of Ottawa is a sponsor of this blog. This adventure was inspired entirely by our own whims, however, and we bought our own annual membership to facilitate this blog post.
What an awesome event! Great for kids!