The first-ever Watermelon Blast will appear in the area

The first-annual Great American Watermelon Blast will happen Saturday, August 27, 2016, in Vienna, Maryland. The makers behind Punkin Chunkin present this new, exciting event that will be a target competition.

The machines that usually launch pumpkins, such as catapults or canons, will be the same machines that will shoot out watermelons.

The event will start at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Throughout the day, teams will be launching watermelons in three rounds at increasing distances from 200 feet to 300 feet and to 500 feet. Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to try blasting a melon out of any of the machines with a donation fee. 

All of the money will be donated to Relay for Life.

Organizers say they will have about 1,000 watermelons ready to launch during the event. These melons are ones that can not be eaten or sold.

Ticket cost $15 in advance and $20 at the event. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets are available in advance here.