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A popular catapult competition returns to Bushwick
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Mar 25, 2025
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Photo by Anastasia Paige
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Mar 25, 2025
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Slingshotting back into Brooklyn is The Great Trebulation, New York City’s only formal catapult-building competition.
The fourth annual event returns to Bushwick at noon on Sunday, April 27, and all are invited to compete to see how far they can sling chocolate balls using homemade contraptions.
Event organizer and Bushwick resident Reid Worroll said in a phone interview Monday that he came up with the concept during the pandemic, “when everyone was picking up some new hobby."
From the Great Trebulation of 2024.
Photo by Jay Meaney
As a child, Worroll had won his school’s trebuchet competition (a trebuchet is a kind of catapult) in South Florida. He recalled his youthful victory as a “crowning achievement" in his hometown and decided to rally his friends to participate in a more adult version of the concept.
In 2022, the first Great Trebulation — a portmanteau of the Biblical prophecy “The Great Tribulation” and “trebuchet” — was a huge success, with a few dozen people in attendance. Last year, the event saw its highest competitor turnout so far, with 19 total teams.
“ People love some anachronistic medieval fun,” he said of the event’s perhaps surprising popularity. “They can cut loose and make a goofy machine and then hang out in a park with a bunch of strangers and throw stuff around."
Highlights of past years’ events have included non-engineers creating truly impressive trebuchets, teams flinging Lindt chocolate truffles (an ideal payload due to their lightness and unlikeliness to cause injury) across the street and the general commitment and community folks have put into and gotten out of the event, said Worroll.
This year’s Great Trebulation will take place at Bushwick’s Green Central Knoll, and Worroll has secured a permit for the gathering.
On the big day, contenders can expect two official rounds of flinging (and one bonus “redemption” round if desired), plus some “fanfare” — last year it was bagpipes, and this year it may be horns. There will also be a prize ceremony and a parade back to 101 Wilson Bar, where winners and losers alike will make merry.
Awards will be given in three categories: farthest distance launched, most handsome, and historical accuracy. This year’s prizes include a handmade trophy and three free sword-fighting lessons at Gotham Sword Academy.
People interested in participating can learn more at the event's official rulebook or contact Worroll through email or Instagram to register and become “tribulationists.” There will also be a meeting at 101 Wilson Bar on April 17. There is a $25 entry fee.
Tagged
new york city
brooklyn
nyc events
Hannah Frishberg
Hannah Frishberg covers New York City arts and culture. Got a tip? Email Hannah at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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