Let it Hurl

You may have recycled the tree, put away the presents, and eaten the leftovers but have you dealt with the dreaded fruitcake from Aunt Mabel? If not, this is your opportunity. Head to Manitou Springs ,January 3rd and have fun disposing of the fruity, nutty “treat.”

Tucked between Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods, Manitou is immediately west of Colorado Springs. The visitor’s bureau calls the town “magical”, I call it quirky. You’ll find characters and class – and, a whole lot of panache. This is a town that knows how to have fun and take a lighthearted look at life.

How better to cap off the holiday festivities that to join in the hurling and launching at the 14th Annual Great Fruitcake Toss? Each year, the Saturday after New Years, competitors and spectators gather in Manitou Springs Memorial Park. Bring your cake in one-, two-, or four-pound sizes. Fruitcakes must contain glaced fruits, nuts and flour – they cannot contain anything inedible. All entries will be examined by the “Fruitcake Toss Tech Inspectors.” If you don’t have any fruitcake laying around the house a limited number of fruitcakes will be available to “rent” for $1.00. 

Events start with the Kids Toss – three age groupings, boy and girl winners, and the Fruitcake Toss – one person physically throwing a 1 pound cake. Then, they get down to the serious stuff: the Fruitcake Launch using a mechanical device, Official fruitcake Hurl using the catapult built by the organizing committee and the Pneumatic Spud Gun division using pneumatic spud gun brought to the competition by the contestant. It doesn’t stop there, they also have the team Catch the Fruitcake competition, and Accuracy with targets place on the field of “battle”. The entertained crowd gets to vote for the Most Creative Launch and the Best Showmanship. Teams are asked to “dress” for the event. Disqualifiers include hurling the fruitcake out of the park, more than 260′.  

My husband almost wept the first time he attended the event. He’s never seen a fruitcake he didn’t like and mourned the waste. Imagine how happy the squirrels are to clean up after the event. After the competitions we “squirrel” away a delicous healthy lunch at Adams Mountain Cafe.

When You Go: The Great Fruitcake Toss runs from 9:30 am – 12:30pm, Saturday, January 3, 2009. Entry Fee is one canned food item or one non-perishable food item to be donated to the local food bank.