No pumpkin chunkin'! (Dover, Lewes, Milton: lawsuits, safety, farm)

[toobusytoday]

No flying pumpkins this year - By Ron MacArthur - CapeGazette.com - Covering Delaware's Cape Region - Inland Bays, Atlantic Ocean, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Milton, Dewey Beach, USA

Pumpkins will not fly this year in Delaware. For the first time in nearly 30 years, the World Championship Punkin Chunkin will not take place.

Organizers announced Oct. 3 that this year's event on the grounds across Route 1 from Dover International Speedway will be postponed until next November. The event had been planned for Oct. 24-26 at the same site as the Firefly music festival.

Even though I have never actually attended, I always thought this was one of the cooler events in the state. *sigh*

[James420]

Yea that news hit hard for a lot of people, a guy I work with was able to raise 4-5 thousand dollars a year the past 5 years for his daughters softball team and that's just one guy. I can't imagine how hard a lot of people are going to really lose out.

Hopefully the participants don't find another place to go.

[longnecker]

I just wonder why they delayed making this announcement? When did it dawn on them they could not pull it together for this year?

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by longnecker

I just wonder why they delayed making this announcement? When did it dawn on them they could not pull it together for this year?

I heard that Dover Downs requires a lot of red tape to set up these events. It's not like going to a local farm and doing things in a simple way.

[nuts2uiam]

The Capegazette dated today stated that they determined it Oct 3rd that due to logistical and permitting problems it would be canceled this year. Apparently the final straw was the organizers filed a permit for public safety, police fire and ambulances and it was returned due to missing info. It was then that they determined it could not be pulled off in time. It will return next year at Dover Downs.

[EnjoyEveryDay]

Sorry to hear, was looking forward to seeing it for the first time this year. Seems odd that if they have been doing this for nearly 30 years that it would be a surprise as to what permits need to be obtained, and what info is needed to get those permits. Was this a new location?

[nuts2uiam]

It had been in Bridgeville forever. I heard and interview yesterday and one of the organizers said that they never had to file the incredible amount of documentation, permits and general paperwork that was necessary for the new location. Having come from NY and been involved with staging many volunteer heavy events I am not surprised. In the past is was essentially on private property thereby eliminating a lot of permit and paperwork. This is a very different animal and in a way funny, no not funny ha ha, funny as in ironic. When you strip it down to the bones, it is all about covering ones patooti against lawsuits and that is why they left the farm to begin with.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by nuts2uiam

It had been in Bridgeville forever.

Lewes, Delaware was the location of the first Pumkin' Chunkin' event, in 1986. I remember it well. So much fun, and so new at that time. Then, it moved west.

[themis27]

Please pardon a dumb question but is the national anthem played before the chunkin begins?

[nuts2uiam]

RDLR is absolutely correct and I knew that as I just recently read a article in the Cape Gazette about the history of the Pumkin Chunkin . I was using forever in the sense of a long time but right you are.