Petersburg's Punkin' Chunkin' fires its last shots

PETERSBURG - The cannons fell silent after Sunday.

The committee for the Petersburg Punkin' Chunkin' decided the event's 16th year would be the last.

The goal was simple: Using cannons and even a trebuchet, folks fired pumpkins out into a field and crews measured how far they went.

The event drew people from around the state for some family fun, but organizers said it was time to move on.

“The effort that goes into it and you plan it and then you get a day like today where you just don’t get a lot of people to come out and enjoy it," committee member Doug Wright said.  "It’s tough on the committee so we decided maybe just give it one more go here and try something different next year.”

Wright said they still have yet to decide what that would be.

Regardless, folks are sad to see the activity go.

"Maybe in couple years, who knows?" Platte Center resident Judy Denton said.  "Maybe they’ll bring it back.  I don’t know what the situation was.”

Attendees Sunday said the event has been a good time to have some fall fun.  Wright said that's how he wants people to remember it.