The day after Halloween, the Putnam Museum & Science Center invites families to keep the fun going at the Putnam Pumpkin Launch on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 4 p.m.

This free, family-friendly event brings together the excitement of flying pumpkins and the color and creativity of Día de los Muertos traditions in one unforgettable afternoon at 1717 W. 12^th St., Davenport. Guests are encouraged to bring their carved pumpkins and watch them soar through the air with the help of the Putnam’s giant trebuchet (that’s fancy talk for catapult!) on the museum’s South Lawn.

The Putnam’s trebuchet is a true in-house creation. Built entirely at the museum by staff members Nathan Kerns and Steve Mielenhausen, this impressive machine was designed, tested, and fine-tuned from the ground up to deliver the perfect pumpkin launch, according to a Putnam release. Though they may not be engineers by trade, their ingenuity and dedication prove otherwise, how many people can say they’ve built a working trebuchet?

The pumpkin launcher at the Putnam Museum and Science Center, 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport.

Adding an artistic touch, Riley Lucas brought the machine to life visually, transforming it from a simple launcher into a work of art. From the Putnam seals on the sides to the giant flaming pumpkins, the trebuchet stands as a testament to the team’s craftsmanship, creativity, and pride in their work.

Inside, visitors can enjoy a variety of themed crafts and hands-on activities celebrating Día de los Muertos. This includes candy skull tissue paper art, glow-in-the-dark masks illuminated with blacklight flashlights, and mini pumpkin launchers made from popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and spoons.

After the outdoor excitement, guests are invited to head into the Giant Screen Theater at 2 p.m. for a showing of Disney Pixar’s Coco — the perfect way to wrap up a day of remembrance and joy.

The Academy Award-winning film follows Miguel, a young musician who embarks on an extraordinary journey to uncover his family’s history and celebrate the power of music and memory.

 Tickets for the movie are $10 for adults, and $9 for youth, students, military, and seniors.

For more information, visit putnam.org.

The free Putnam Pumpkin Launch will take place Saturday, Nov. 1 from 1 to 4 p.m., with a 2 p.m. showing of the film “Coco” (tickets required) in the Giant Screen Theater.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.