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UPDATE: Pumpkin-launching event, scheduled for Nanoose Bay, cancelled

Event on Nov. 2 benefits child development centre and food bank
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This year's Great Pumpkin Toss will migrate north to Arbutus Meadows Farms on Saturday, Nov. 2.

UPDATE: In a social media post, organizers said this year's Great Pumpkin Toss has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. They apologized for the short notice and hope to see people next year. 

PREVIOUSLY POSTED: A move from the Nanaimo area to Nanoose is intended to make a post-Halloween fundraiser bigger than ever.

The Great Pumpkin Toss offers people a chance to dispose of their old jack-o'-lanterns by firing them into a field with a VMAC- or Alair Homes-built device, all to benefit Nanaimo Child Development Centre. Previously held in East Wellington, the toss migrates north to Arbutus Meadows Farms on Saturday, Nov. 2.

A more fall fair-type atmosphere was sought, said Jay Clayton, event organizer.

"It's a great little community there, but two things we really wanted to accomplish is a bigger space that would allow us to introduce a number of new activities and give more range to the cannons, because, of course, everybody loves the cannons," he said. "Part of the challenge with the old location is that you actually lost sight of where the pumpkins landed, which is, I think, the majority of the fun."

Holding this year's event at Arbutus Meadows also allows for people from Nanaimo and Parksville to attend, he said, as the site is located between the municipalities and it has hay rides and a petting zoo. Other attractions include face painting, bouncy castles and pumpkin smashing stations.

While money is being raised for the child development centre, donations of food will also be accepted for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. 

"We're asking people, as part of their entry fee to make a donation to either or the CDC or Loaves and Fishes," he said. "Then we're going to be asking them again for small donations to participate in the activities, whether that's face painting or firing one of the cannons."

The event has taken place for four years and there is a rivalry between Alair Homes and VMAC, with bragging rights on the line.

"This all started with Stu Hopewell from Alair Homes building a trebuchet. And then VMAC, of course, who specializes in compressed air, showing up with a cannon. The ongoing joke in the last three or four years has been, 'You don't show up to a cannon fight with a trebuchet," so that's gone on," said Clayton.

Arbutus Meadows Farms is located at 1515 Island Hwy E in Nanoose Bay and the Great Pumpkin Toss runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 2.

Organizers are still hoping to drum up more sponsors for the event. For more information, go to https://greatpumpkintoss.com/.

 

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Karl Yu

About the Author: Karl Yu

I joined Black Press in 2010 and cover education, court and RDN. I am a Ma Murray and CCNA award winner.
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