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Thursday, October 19, 2006

Punkin Chunkin' Launches Saturday

By Beth Hahn
Mountain View Telegraph
    Fall in the Estancia Valley means changing colors and the resounding splat! of pumpkins meeting their demise in Estancia's annual Punkin Chunkin' festival.
    The 2006 version of Estancia's fundraiser for the Rotary Youth Scholarship Fund will include plenty of gourd-launching and several contests, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, carnival rides, live music, door prizes and a parade.
    The fun begins Saturday with the parade down Estancia's main street at 11 a.m. The actual chunkin' of the punkins, as well as the rest of the attractions, is scheduled to begin at noon at Cape Calabaza, about 1.5 miles west of Estancia on N.M. 55.

Click to enlarge

    While the parade is free, entrance to Cape Calabaza is $6 per carload or $5 in advance. Tickets are available from Estancia Rotary Club members.
    Rotary Club President Eric Turner said organizers are expecting to double last year's turnout for the event.
    "We got rained out pretty good last year, so only about 2,500 people came," he said Monday. "We think we'll have about 5,000 people this year."
    Because Estancia's Punkin Chunkin' is the only competitive event of its kind in New Mexico, Turner said the Rotary Club is in the process of having the event certified by the World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association or a similar national group so the winner will qualify to compete at national meets.
    Hobby launchers, though, can still show up and compete for pride, Turner said.
    "We're still going to keep it fun ... because we have a lot of different categories," he said.
    Those seeking a steppingstone to national competitions will have their own categories, while others who compete for fun, pride or bragging rights will still be able to fling pumpkins with any contraption they bring, he said.
    Other events include a punkin carvin' contest (bring pre-carved pumpkins to enter), an exhibit of Estancia students' artwork and hot air balloon rides.
    For more information on:
   

The pumpkin prince and princess contest, contact Stella Chavez at 384-4406 evenings or 384-5000 during the day.
   

Launcher categories and other punkin chunkin' contest rules, contact Bruce Peterson or David Atencio at 384-2001 during the day.
   

Parade, contact Stella Chavez at 384-4406 evenings or 384-5000 during the day.
   

Booth spaces for arts and crafts vendors, contact Angie Coburn at 384-2811 evenings or 384-2777 during the day.