COEUR d'ALENE - Punkin Chunkin Fall Festival 2013 was a smash.

The lawn on the southern end of the Kootenai County Fairgrounds was littered with orange, yellow and white pumpkin carcasses Saturday afternoon as kids and a few grown-ups launched their jack-o-lanterns toward hay bales. They made dull thuds and pops as they landed, sounding like distant thunderclaps that could barely be heard beneath the squeals of excited children.

"Look at all of the pumpkins that we launched," said 10-year-old Cub Scout Harry Tomasi. "Just seeing the pumpkins fly through the air is really cool. The deer are going to have a feast, if they can get in."

About 30 people waited their turn for for the aerodynamic amusement as they stood in line, some coming and going and kids scampering about. Cub Scout Troop 266 den leader Patrick Kinney of Coeur d'Alene assisted with the trebuchet, which took him about three weeks to build. His troop was present for its unveiling and its first launch.

"It's fun, it actually works," Kinney said. He created the trebuchet from designs he found on the Internet.

"The kids are loving it, that's what's fun, to see their faces," he said. "And even the parents, that's what's cool. It's kind of fun. It's a good thing."

Who cleans up all that squash?

"They're actually having a cleaning crew come and they're collecting up the pumpkin and turning it into mulch for one of the places around here for gardening and stuff," Kinney said. "But yeah, there's a mess of it."

Nevaeh Witherspoon, 10, of Post Falls, and little brother Michael, 6, enjoyed casting their jack-o-lanterns from the trebuchet.

"It's fun watching them explode," Nevaeh said. "It's better than watching them mold."

Their mom Diana stood by and snapped a few photos of the kids. This is the second year the family attended. Diana said it's great way for the family to get outside and do something fun.

"It's also because it's for ElderHelp, that's always a good cause," she said.

A few slingshots and smaller launchers were set up next to the main catapult. People carted and toted in their own jack-o-lanterns, or selected from boxes of provided pumpkins and apples to send sailing into the air.

The festivities also took place in the Jacklin Building. Attendees enjoyed music, treats and autumn-themed games such as "Go Fish" pumpkin ring toss and "Smashin' Pumpkins" whack-a-pumpkin. Tickets for all the activities were $1 each.

This was the second year for Punkin Chunkin. It is a fundraiser for ElderHelp of North Idaho, an organization that provides assistance to low-income seniors in Kootenai County.

Info: www.elderhelpofnorthidaho.org