World War II bombers are getting ready to drop pumpkins instead of bombs over St. Charles County Regional Airport–Smartt Field next Saturday. The Open House and Pumpkin Drop runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 24 at 6390 Grafton Ferry Road in Portage des Sioux, and it promises a mix of vintage aircraft, home-built planes, and a fruit-flinging air show that has become a fall tradition in the area.
According to the St. Charles County calendar listing, the open house will showcase experimental and home-built aircraft alongside historic military aircraft and vehicles. Visitors can also tour the Commemorative Air Force Museum, giving a closer look at the kind of planes that will later take to the sky overhead.
The headline act kicks off at 10 a.m., when the pumpkin drop itself begins, as detailed in a St. Charles County news release. Two hours later, the main event arrives: a World War II B-25 Mitchell and TBM Avenger bombers will take to the skies at noon to carpet-bomb a target with pumpkins, per the same release from St. Charles County, Missouri.
How To Get In On The Action
Anyone hoping to toss their own pumpkin from the sky can sign up through St. Charles Flying Service at 636-946-6066, according to the county's event listing. For a fee, the Commemorative Air Force is also offering rides in a historic Warbird aircraft, bookable by calling 636-250-4515, the county notes. Static displays and aircraft rides are subject to availability, so not every plane or ride may be on hand that day.
Families with younger aviation fans will find a fully functional robot from the FIRST Super Hornets Robotics Team on site as well, per the county's fall festivities announcement. The county first teased the event in a St. Charles County Missouri Government post on Facebook sharing photos ahead of the weekend.
A Tradition With A Track Record
This isn't the pumpkin drop's first flight. The 13th annual edition back in 2021 drew an estimated 800 to 1,000 spectators and 51 participants, making it the most successful run up to that point, according to Missouri Life. Hitting the mark isn't easy, either — that year, only six competitors managed to land inside the 50-foot circle surrounding the target's X, the outlet reported.
That same 2021 event let kids tour the B-25 Mitchell and TBM Avenger up close, including sitting in the cockpits and even going up for flights, Missouri Life reported. A separate recap from aeroexperience.blogspot.com described that year's open house as a great success that drew a record crowd despite cold and overcast conditions, with the CAF bombers taking off at noon to reposition for their bomb runs.
For questions about this year's event, organizers can be reached by calling Smartt Field directly at 636-949-1893.
