Nothing says fall like a pumpkin.

In the case of the first-ever Clinton Town Picnic this Saturday, those pumpkins will be hurtling through the air after being launched from a trebuchet, all in the name of building a stronger community identity for the sprawling unincorporated area of Island County.

“Clinton is unique in that it has the ferry, everybody knows that. But we’re trying to revitalize the area,” said Catherine Billera, a board member of the Clinton Progressive Association, one of the agencies putting on the free-to-all fall feast.

“We would like people to identify with Clinton,” she added.

Even the feast’s genesis is a testament to community building. Thanks to business and resident donations, the Clinton Progressive Association, Clinton Chamber of Commerce and Clinton Community Council, barbecued beef, lamb and veggie burgers and salad is all free.

“It isn’t often you get a free lunch that is truly free,” said Jack Lynch, president of the community council.

The picnic is from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at Dan Porter Memorial Park on Deer Lake Road, Clinton.

Aside from the food, activities figure to be attractions to the picnic in the park. Clinton revelers can play lawn Scrabble and bring a pumpkin or squash to decorate and sculpt for a crowd-judged contest.

The main act, however, will be loading those quirks of art into the trebuchet and watching them sail through the air until gravity bests them and smashes them back to Earth.

Doug Hofius, a member of the Clinton Community Council, said his neighbors have had the trebuchet, a device used in medieval times as a siege weapon to hurl stones and boulders and repurposed today for popular events like “Punkin Chuckin,” for years. They tested it a few weeks ago, which prompted Hofius to recall that, depending on the size of the squash, pumpkin or zucchini, the projectile can sail up to 40 yards.

“I think that’ll be a fun event,” he said.

Less explosive entertainment will be provided by Clinton musicians the Heggenes Valley Boys, who sing about Whidbey life with a touch of humor.

The gathering is also an opportunity to learn what’s happening and what’s on the horizon for Clinton. Between the three sponsoring organizations — progressive association, chamber of commerce, community council — Hofius said a lot of work is being done on Clinton’s behalf. One of the major goals of all three is to see more activity in the commercial areas and a revitalization in the area that has become a pass through for ferry traffic.

Considering the National Weather Service-predicted sunny skies, the food, games, pumpkin launching and music are all free, Billera recommended everyone in Clinton swing by for a bite.

“There’s no reason not to come,” Billera said. “It’s going to be a really fun time.”