By Chad Neal
This Saturday Ellicottville Distillery will host their 7th Annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ event at 5462 Robbins Road just a few miles down Rte 242 outside the Village of Ellicottville. This entertaining extravaganza involves a group of Engineers who developed a trebuchet to launch (in this case) pumpkins several hundred yards. The groups name is Team Urban Siege. The team has been doing this for years since they started building trebuchets in college, and now have a dynamic show to put on along with live music by Travis Happoldt who will be playing his away of music starting at 3pm. There will also be a food truck there called Loaded Gurney with plenty of delicious foods to choose from.
Team Urban Siege has a large 20-foot trebuchet called NASAW (North American Sliding Axel Whipper) and a smaller condensed version at 6 feet. These machines are prepped and turned with the gourd in the launching basket until the rip cord is tugged and the trebuchet cranks into action throwing the orange veggie thousands of feet, and in this situation, they are launched at the hill behind the Distillery and in some cases, they are hurled over the hill, but most are seen hitting the trees and exploding into the hillside. The smaller version launches the pumpkins hundreds of feet, yet still it is a site to witness, as the speed of the objects is amazing.
The Villager caught up with the owners of the Ellicottville Distillery – Bryan and Renee Scharf and asked them about the history and how they found the intriguing Team Urban Siege. They wrote back: This will be the 7th year they have joined us, missing the one year due to covid. In the letter Renee wrote their friend Andy Wolfe introduced Team Urban Siege to them and they haven’t gone through any other pumpkin tossers for this show. She also told The Villager that they didn’t know what to expect, but they just wanted another family friendly fun event to give their patrons something to enjoy and remember. “It’s so much fun, we’ve done it every year since!”
They also said the group launches a pumpkin about every half an hour, and it is announced when they are getting ready. The whole scene is neat to watch and the unleashing of the machine is magnificent every time. Meanwhile artist and musician Travis Happoldt will entertain the crowd with his well-known music. He takes requests as well and engages the crowd. He plays several genres and is entertaining as all get out. His main gig is teaching history at the Salamanca School and he grew up and graduated from Ellicottville Central School.
The food truck sizzling up glorious and tasty foods will be ready to go as well, so in between launches one can get loaded potatoes and/ or hot dogs with many toppings that’ll satisfy any foodies and don’t forget the Ellicottville Distillery has plenty of cocktails to offer made with their own distilled liquors and beer is also available. The end of the season is up for the neighboring Bigfoot Park Golf as the gourds will be flying over the course during the event.
Stop in this Saturday, November 7 and check out the fun stuff going on starting at noon, with the live music starting at 3pm. The Ellicottville Distillery is in a great spot and the view is grand. The drinks they serve are spectacular and the day should be a great time for everyone.
The Ellicottville Distillery is located at 5462 Robbins Road in Ellicottville, NY (near the Holiday Valley Tubing Park). For more information visit their Facebook page.