Hundreds of residents turned out for a smashing good time to watch as 24 pilots and their bombardiers flew over the Bradley Sky Ranch runway in North Pole in a sortie of SuperCubs, Cessnas, Scouts and Huskys to deploy their orange ordnance.

The Great Interior Pumpkin Drop of 2025 commenced.

Shouts of “Drop it! Drop it!” erupted from the crowd, as some bombardiers released too early or too late, sending the orange squash smashing far afield of the bullseye barrel.

Each pilot had three attempts as they flew at 200 feet above the target, for a total of 72 pumpkins that broke apart on impact and sent pieces flying.

Announcer Dani Easterling provided color commentary and pilot facts during the air drops.

“The pumpkins weren’t consulted about the drop, so they’re pretty broken up about it,”

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