Mayor Kerry Thomson

Page last updated on September 1, 2026 at 4:14 pm

Bloomington Pumpkin Launch

  • Spectator Admission: $10/vehicle
  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
  • Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m..

  • Monroe County Fairgrounds
    5700 W. Airport Rd.
    Bloomington, IN 47403

Register a launch device! No fee to participate.

Watch pumpkins soar through the sky, or build your own launcher to join the fun! The Bloomington Pumpkin Launch is a one-of-a-kind fall tradition where creativity, engineering, and pumpkins collide. 

Gather friends, fellow club members, or colleagues and design your own pumpkin-flinging machine. Whether it is powered by physics, tension, or pure imagination, we would love to see it on the launch line. 

No launch device? No problem! There is still plenty to enjoy. Spectators cheer on their favorite teams, marvel at pumpkin drops from a bucket truck, and soak up the festive fall vibes that include live music, autumn-themed activities for kids, food vendors, and more. Bring a lawn chair and spend the day watching pumpkins fly!

Launcher Divisions

  • Youth Human Powered (elementary or middle school)
  • Student Human Powered (high school or college)
  • Adult Human Powered

Launcher Size Classes

  • Large - (pumpkins must be 5 lbs or more)
  • Small - (pumpkins should be 2-4 lbs)
  • Mini - (pumpkins should be less than 2 lbs and all launcher components must fit entirely in a single vehicle such as a pickup truck, small van, or SUV)

Launching Device Requirements

  • Cannons and chemically powered launchers are NOT permitted. Device must be mechanical only. No fuel, compressed air, electricity, explosives, and/or other chemical components or any other fluids including but not limited to oil, water, and hydraulic fluid allowed. The only exception is for a small powered winch on the machine to help cock the throwing arm.
  • A safety strap or other mechanism is required to remain in place at all times on the throwing arm after the machine is cocked until released for firing. This is to ensure that no premature launches occur.
  • Any device constructed similar to a catapult must launch overhand, and not sidearm.

Competitions

  • Teams compete in both accuracy and distance contests. Each contest consists of four rounds of launching.
  • Teams must bring a minimum of eight pumpkins weighing between 5 and 8 pounds to the competition.

Launcher team registration deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 16. There is no fee to register a launcher.

For more information about the Pumpkin Launch, email Bill Ream or call 812-349-3748.