LA JARA — Too many pumpkins this year? La Jara has a fun way to get rid of them.
The La Jara Smash Fest Oct. 28 will be devoted to pumpkins and fun, with Conejos County’s first-ever pumpkin chunking  at 312 South Main Street, the west end of town by the elementary school.
The day will include a pumpkin-carving contest for children and adults, followed by a pumpkin patch for children ages three to 10.
Pumpkin hunting will begin at 10 a.m. with children taking home pumpkins and a carving contest for children and adults will take place from 10 a.m. to noon.
The  chunkin’ launch time will be at 1 p.m. as people — even families — use kinetic energy to launch pumpkins into the air, vying for a $200 prize, a “really large trophy” and a year’s worth of bragging rights.
Launching devices can be catapults, tebuchets orslingshots large enough to launch a good-sized pumpkin.
Entry fee is $25 for chunkers, all other events are free, according to Events Coordinator Krista Ross.
Participants may enter anytime up to Oct. 25 by going to Town Hall.