Registration Deadline
October 8, 2026
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CAMPSITE RESERVATION WINDOW OPENS ON NOVEMBER 1, 2025.
If you have never seen a pumpkin fly, Punkin Chunkin is your chance. Catapults, air cannons, trebuchets and other powerful machines toss pumpkins up to several thousand feet at a festival sponsored by the Clay County Chamber of Commerce.
Thousands of people come every year to see this hugely popular harvest festival in Western North Carolina near Hayesville.
In addition to the pumpkin throwing, there will be live entertainment, food and beverages, pie-eating contests, and craft vendors. Old Time Tractors will be on display with hayrides and airplane rides are available for those who want an aerial view of the fall colors. The Kidzone is always a popular place with lots of kids’ activities.
Punkin Chunkin weekend kicks off on Friday evening with the “Anything Pumpkin” and Chili Cook-off competition on the Historic Hayesville Square starting at 6 pm. Tickets ($5) will be sold on a first-come first-serve basis at the event. Enjoy live music and wander the historic downtown. There are several restaurants downtown in case you are still hungry after tasting all the chili varieties and pumpkin desserts!
The main festival is held at 811 Settawig Road in nearby Brasstown. It runs from 9 am – 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Parking is $5, admission is $5, children under 5 are free. On both days, the machines will take practice throws in the morning then pause so visitors can get an up-close look. The big competition begins after lunch. VERY important: bring your lawn chair. Also, no pets or firearms allowed.
Our campground for this rally is the beautiful Valley River RV Resort just outside of Murphy, NC. It boasts majestic views and best-in-class luxury amenities including full hookups, a clubhouse and covered deck for events, a private lake for fishing, canoeing and paddle boarding, a mild year-round climate, a new laundromat and an upscale bathhouse.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE CAMPGROUND FOR RESERVATIONS UNTIL AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 2025. When you call, make sure to tell them you are with the Carolinas Airstream Club Rally scheduled for October 15-18, 2026. They are providing a group discount and will locate our members together on the campground.