You could let your old jack-o-lantern dissolve into a puddle of goo on your front porch, but wouldn’t you rather (safely) blow it up using Civil War technology? Saturday, Nov. 1 from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., join the staff of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson (BTFA) for what has become a beloved site tradition — the Great Pumpkin Blowout. BTFA is administered by North Carolina Historic Sites, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The event is BYOP (bring your own pumpkin). Participants will pay $10 for the unique experience of detonating their pumpkin using the same technology used to launch Civil War-era torpedoes. Visitors will see different types of torpedoes from the time period and learn the technology behind black powder and the torpedo itself. Staff advise that pumpkins with minimal carving offer the best explosions, but all types will work. Admission to the site and watching the fun is free. Proceeds from the Great Pumpkin Blowout support educational programming at the site.
About Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site is a major pre-Revolutionary port on North Carolina's Cape Fear River, Brunswick was abandoned and burned during the American Revolution and never fully recovered. During the Civil War, Fort Anderson was constructed atop the old village site, and served as part of the Cape Fear River defenses below Wilmington before the fall of the Confederacy. Colonial foundations dot the present-day tour trail, which crosses the earthworks of the Confederate fort. The site is located at 8884 St. Philip's Rd SE, Winnabow, N.C. 28479. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/brunswick-town-and-fort-anderson/plan-your-visit or call (910) 371-6613.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.