Potato slingshot adds new fun for kids, adults at Leechburg's Fall Festival

A homemade slingshot and 200 pounds of potatoes made for a good time for young and old alike at Leechburg’s Fall Festival on Saturday.

“Amazing. Loved it,” said Gretchen Bailey, of Parks Township, after she fired some spuds into the Kiski River. “I never launched potatoes into a river.”

This year was the first time for “Slingshot Shenanigans,” which could have also been appropriately called a Tater Toss, a Fry Fling, or a Spud Sling — monikers that are all up for grabs.

It was the idea of Patti Klasnick, of Gilpin and secretary of the Leechburg Area Community Association, or LACA.

But Klasnick had to be talked out of her original idea to use pumpkins, Leechburg Mayor Doreen Smeal said. The second idea was apples, but they cost too much so they went with potatoes.

While the first Fall Festival was held in 2022, this was only the second year for the event, which was rained out in 2023 and just didn’t come together in 2024, Smeal said.

There was going to be a target to aim for in the river, but that didn’t work out, Klasnick’s husband, Kirk Klasnick, said.

But that did nothing to dissuade the enthusiasm of those who in exchange for a $1 donation to LACA got three potatoes to load into the slingshot.

“It seems to be a big hit,” Kirk Klasnick said.

Some of the best shots were making it about halfway across the river from the launching point above the water and near the gazebo in Leechburg’s Riverfront Park.

Emma Kissel, 12, of Allegheny Township said she got one nearly to the other side. Asked if she was possibly exaggerating, she said, “No.”

Jonathan McLaughlin, of Leechburg, admitted to having been out-shot by his 8-year-old son, Cooper.

It was so much fun they came back to it three separate times.

“It’s genius.” Jonathan McLaughlin said. “You shoot potatoes into the river. It doesn’t hurt anything.”