Punkin Chunkin

How do I get there?

The Chunk is held East of Bridgeville, Delaware. Click here for detailed directions.

Is there an admission fee?

$10.00 per person. Parking is free and children under 10 are admitted free of charge.

If you are towing a trailer or have an oversize vehicle there will be an additional charge.

We are sorry, but there are no multi-day tickets.

What are the GPS Coordinates for the Chunk Location?

The GPS coordinates are on the Location page. Click here to open the page.

What is the street address where the Chunk is held?

As the Chunk is held in a corn field, it doesn’t have one! However, the Royal Farms at 18657 Sussex Highway, Bridgeville, DE 19933 is at the closest major intersection. From there Delaware DOT signs will point you in the direction towards the event.

What hotels are available in the area?

Hotel	Amenities
Quality Inn 225 N. Dual Highway Seaford, DE 19973 302-629-8385 800-528-1234	95 guest rooms 25 person meeting room Standard Internet Connection in guest rooms and meeting room
Hampton Inn Contact: Shalin Patel 799 N. Dual Highway Seaford, DE 19973 302-629-4500 800-426-7866	66 guest rooms 36 person meeting room (50 people w/o tables) Internet is available in a Business Center and the guest rooms
Holiday Inn Express Contact: Carol Powell 210 N. Dual Highway Seaford, DE 19973 302-629-2000 800-465-4329	81 guest rooms 25 person meeting room Internet is available in the meeting room and guest rooms
Days Inn & Suites Contact: Shaan Christy 420 N. Dual Highway Seaford, DE 19973 302-629-4300	61 guest rooms 25 person meeting room Internet is available in every room Business Center and Fitness Center are available

Is there a campground near the Chunk?

Yes! But it isn’t “near” the Chunk, it is AT the Chunk! We accommodate both RV and tent camping. View the Travel Info page for more information.

When should we arrive?

Come early, stay late. Plenty of vendors with food and drink, but feel to bring your own. Chunks officially end at dusk.

How do we enter a machine?

Print the application form and mail it along with the fee to the address on the form.

You can also contact us by sending a request letter to:

World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association
PO Box 217
Nassau, DE 19969

The application form will be mailed to you.

Last year’s participants must register prior to June 1st to guarantee the spot on the ‘firing line’ that they had in the previous year's event.

What are the rules of the Chunk?

Official Rules are listed on the Competition Rules page.

What time does the ‘Chunk’ start?

The gates open at 7:30 AM each day. The complete schedule for the Chunk is available on the Schedule page.

Do the machines fire every day of the competition?

Yes. Starting early in the morning, each machine fires one measured competition shot each day. Once this is accomplished for all of the machines, the field is then declared open for a “free fire” and any/all machines may fire as much as they wish. See the next two answers for more information.

When do the machines fire each day?

Starting on the extreme left-hand side of the line (Pit #1), each machine will fire its one competition shot for the day. This will continue down the line, moving to the right until all the machines have fired. Note that no other machine may fire during this time because of safety concerns for the spotters in the field. Theatrical entries are not limited to this rule and will present their show on a periodic basis.

Once every machine has fired and its shot measured, the field will be cleared of spotters and a “free-for-all” will begin. Any or all machines may fire at will. Not every machine is required to do this, however, as some team captains may wish to save the machine from any potential damage so that they have a good competition shot the next day. That being said, it is a very high percentage of machines that will fire for fun.

Should the line not be completed for competition shots, it is not unusual for the competition to be suspended for the night. There may or may not be time for a free-for-all. The competition will be started the next morning at the point where the competition was suspended.

What are the lyrics to the Punkin Chunkin Anthem?

The Punkin Chunkin Anthem, written in 1989 by William and Dawn Thompson has become a traditional part of the event’s daily opening ceremonies.

Now you can sing along:

It was the end of October, the beginning of November.
The air was cold and clear and I said, Boys listen here,
I think I can make a punkin fly.
John said, Cannot. I said, Can too.
So we put that punkin in a bucket, swung around, away it flew.
John said, No fair. We said, Hell, it’s in the air.
So the challenge was made and the gauntlet was laid
To build a machine to power a punkin through the air.
John said, Springs are the way to go. Bill said, I don’t believe so.
It’s Punkin Chunkin time again.
Come on, all you neighbors and friends.
I’ll show you how to make a punkin fly … rain, snow or blow.
Them punkins are gonna go!

Is there a contest on Friday?

Yes. The complete schedule for the Chunk is available on the Schedule page.

Can I bring my pet to the Chunk?

Only service animals are allowed at the Chunk. If you bring your pet we will ask you to leave. There are just too many safety and health reasons to allow pets to be brought onto the grounds.

This rule against pets attending INCLUDES the camping areas! When we say “no pets”, we mean “NO PETS!”

Will food vendors be available?

There will be a wide assortment of food and beverage vendors, However, no alcoholic beverages will be sold on the grounds.

What things are available for kids to do at the Chunk?

A full carnival-style midway with rides, games and vendors is available.

May I bring my ATV, UTV, golf cart or scooter into the Chunk?

No motorized vehicles with the exception of motorized wheelchairs are allowed in the public areas at the Chunk.

May I bring a cooler to the Chunk?

Yes, coolers are allowed.

Are alcoholic beverages allowed or sold at the Chunk?

You may bring alcoholic beverages to the Chunk, but we require that you are of legal drinking age (police will be on-site to enforce this law) and we ask that you drink responsibly. The Association reserves the right to ask those that are intoxicated to leave the grounds at any time.

There are no sales of alcoholic beverages at the Chunk.

May a campstove be used in the campsite/tailgate areas?

Open fires placed directly on the ground is not allowed, but portable campstoves and fire pits are OK.

Should we bring blankets or chairs?

Good idea. The event is held in a large field. Most spectators stand by the fence, but later in the day a place to rest is always welcomed I am sure. The viewing area stretches for a long distance and there is plenty of room to get a good view. You will see people with platforms on buses, vans, and other inventive viewing venues.

Is there a special parking area for motorcycles?

Yes, but it—like all the parking for the Chunk—is in a plowed corn field. Bring a piece of wood, stone or a “kickstand coaster” so that your motorcycle does not fall over from the kickstand sinking into the relatively soft earth.

May I bring a group using bus transportation to/from the Chunk?

Bus traffic will be directed to a drop off point where it will be boarded by our staff to take entry payment before leaving the bus. The bus will be off loaded and sent to Royal Farm in Bridgeville as staging until the event is over or parked in a remote location on the field depending on field conditions.

There will be a stop location assembled to board your group when the bus is called to return by your group.

Are there any limitations as to what items we can bring into the event?

No bottles are allowed on the field as the glass damages farm equipment.

What about underage drinking laws?

Delaware State Police will be enforcing underage drinking laws with a great presence. Those caught drinking while under the legal drinking age WILL BE ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO JAIL. They have a zero tolerance level for this, so don’t try it.

Why We Chunk

The World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association supports the mission of the above organizations by contributing to the funding that keeps them going strong. A share of the proceeds from our annual Punkin Chunkin event in November is earmarked for charitable giving. We are proud of our relationship with these vital nonprofits and the work they do to make life better for those in need.