Nothing says fall in Willow Creek quite like the annual Pumpkin Catapult Festival, a weekend of high-flying gourds, crunchy leaves, and old-fashioned fun.
The centerpiece of the festival is the Pumpkin Launch Contest, where teams compete to see whose homemade contraption can fling a pumpkin the farthest. From medieval-style trebuchets to modern slingshots, the devices are as impressive as they are ridiculous. The current record stands at 312 feet, held by the high school physics club’s precision-built catapult, “The Squash Slinger.”
Beyond the competition, the festival features classic autumn activities like a hay maze, a scarecrow-building contest, and the much-loved Pumpkin Pie Bake-Off, where local bakers battle for the title of Best Pie in Willow Creek. Kids enjoy a pumpkin painting station, while thrill-seekers try the Corn Cannon, shooting ears of corn at distant targets.
As the sun sets, the festival wraps up with a Bonfire Bash, complete with live folk music and plenty of spiced cider. The town gathers to share ghost stories, roast marshmallows, and watch the final, most spectacular launch—a giant pumpkin filled with confetti, fireworks, and fall leaves, shot into the sky as a grand finale.
The Pumpkin Catapult Festival is more than just a quirky event—it’s a celebration of ingenuity, laughter, and the joy of small-town autumn. Whether you come to compete, bake, or simply cheer from the sidelines, there’s no better way to welcome fall in Willow Creek.