LA JARA— Start planning now for the latest way to put those spare pumpkins to use and take home prizes.
The third annual La Jara Smash Fest, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 will be devoted to pumpkins and fun.
Conejos County’s third annual pumpkin chunkin’ will be on South Main Street at the west end of town by the elementary school.
Now is the time to set up a kinetic energy device that will launch pumpkins father than the pros.
Last year, professional punkin chunkers traveled to La Jara and took home the money. Now, it's time for locals to cash in.
Launching devices can be catapults, trebuchets or slingshots, large enough to hurl a good-sized pumpkin across a long distance.
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 $1,000 prize in the adult division and $500 in the junior division, not to mention a year’s worth of bragging rights.
Entry fee is $25 for chunkers; all other events are free, according to Events Coordinator Krista Ross. Registration is due by Oct. 1. Contact Ross at 274-5363 or email assistantclerk1lajara@yahoo.