WITH Halloween on the horizon, preparations are being made for an increasingly popular event in Ellesmere – pumpkin flinging!
The now annual ‘Final Fling’ event on the recreation ground in Birch Road involves a real-life trebuchet that flings family pumpkins that are no longer needed.
Town families and any other young-at-heart folk who wish to see a pumpkin fly in the air are invited to bring their Halloween lanterns on Sunday, November 3 between 2pm and 4pm.
READ MORE: Ellesmere Fizzgigs set to hold pumpkin flinging
The pumpkins will then be flung at a mystery target.
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The free event is being brought to the town by Fizzgigs, the community arts group.
The pumpkins will be flung via a trebuchet, a medieval siege engine.
Visitors can name their jack-o-lanterns, and the names are carefully recorded and the pumpkins weighed.
Peter Cartlidge, who is overseeing the hugely popular event at the start of November, said that around half a ton of ballast is being used to send pumpkins into the skies of Ellesmere and issued a plea for people to arrive early.
He said: “Operating the trebuchet is hard work.
“About 500kg of ballast will be in the trebuchet bucket which will be pulled into position for every pumpkin fling.
“So come early to be sure your pumpkin gets thrown. It’s not every day you get to see a trebuchet.”
This year each person will be asked to predict how far their pumpkin might go. The measuring tape will be adjusted to that point. Any pumpkin hitting the predicted distance will win a small prize.
At least 100 people have attended the event each year, with more than 150 when the weather has been kind.
Joan Mowl, chairman of Fizzgigs, said the event is an important part of the community group’s annual calendar and says there is a great spirit shown throughout the day.
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She said: “It is lovely to hear the banter and joshing between folks, and also to see how seriously some of the children take the event.”
All pumpkin flesh and unflung jack-o-lanterns will be collected from the field and taken for composting.
Details of all Fizzgigs activities can be found at www.fizzgigs.co.uk
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