It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a ... Pumpkin?

At the time of year when most people are carving pumpkins, a small group of individuals will be launching them up to 1,000 feet using homemade medeival devices.

Talk about smashing pumpkins.

The Lake Orion Pumpkin Launch will be held at Orion Oaks County Park this Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The event is open to all, and food sale proceeds will benefit Boy Scouts Troop 108. Additionally, spectators will receive a free pumpkin while supplies last.

Teams in two categories – Open and Junior (15 and under) – will be competing for the Michigan Title as they use their home-built trebuchets to launch the pumpkins into the air.

Teams will compete in measured-competition launches and free-style launching, and spectators will be able to see the machines up close and ask questions.

The event is $5 per vehicle for spectators or free for those who have an Oakland County Parks vehicle permit. The participant fee is $25.

The event is hosted by Oakland Ballistics and is sponsored by Oakland County Parks, Lake Orion Parks, the Lake Orion DDA and Orion Township. For more information, visit the Lake Orion Pumpkin Launch website or call 248-961-3362.