The Amish dunk tank

Yes, these are Amish fellas in the photos.  And no, definitely not something you see every day:

amish dunk tank

These were taken at the PA Dutch festival held each summer at Reading Terminal Market in downtown Philadelphia.  The event features a petting zoo, buggy rides, parade, country and bluegrass bands, and of course food.

contestant amish dunk tank

The dunk tank is for a good cause.  A Lancaster friend who knows the event explains that “It is a great fund-raiser.  You pay so much for so many balls, hit the target and splash.  The better of a heckler the guy on the dunk seat, the more money people spend on balls to dunk the sucker.”

amishman getting dunked

Sample heckle?  “You couldn’t hit the side of a barn even if you were standing inside the barn.”  One more?  “You can’t throw, too many of your uncles and aunts got married to each other!”

(Try to tell me Amish don’t have a sense of humor after that one).

soaked amishman dunk tank

Here’s another dunkee, who didn’t mind shedding his Plain attire for something more water-worthy:

pa dutch festival dunk tank

The 22nd edition of the festival will be held this August 11-13.  If you’ve ever felt the need to dunk an Amishman, this is your chance!

Photo credit: Melody Joy Kramer

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    9 Comments

    1. Richard

      I’m waiting for the ACLU to step-in and stop dunk tanks for good, i mean they are trying to stop dodge ball in some schools now,lol. And yes they do seem like pretty good sports in the pictures, so this maybe changes some peoples opinion that the Amish are a bit too serious. Good work Erik. Richard from Pennsylvania.

    2. Richard

      Incase anyone is interested, I’ve posted a piece on my blog about RV maker Jayco and the Amish that work there. I have some images that were sent from the factory to me for Amish Stories. So i welcome everyone to give it a look. Richard from Pennsylvania.

    3. On a warm day that might feel pretty good! I think they are enjoying the dunk or maybe heckling folks!

    4. Katie Troyer

      You ought to see the Amish on Seista Beach in Sarasota.

    5. Great Photos

      I especially love the one of the older guy as he’s climbing out of the tank — Such a great attitude and so much fun!

    6. If I was to import an American custom to Sweden I think dunk tanks would be it. They seem like a lot of fun. I have never seen them here but I am sure they would be liked here too.

    7. Richard

      I always think of dunk tanks as old fashioned fun, like a kissing both at a country fare or a funnel cake stand. Its charming and just goes to show you that some things don’t have to be high tech to be fun. Richard from the Amish settlement of Lebanon Pennsylvania.

    8. Alice Mary

      All wet?

      Now THERE’S an idea for a book—Amish Heckles & Taunts! I’ll bet they’d beat what you find in Shakespeare (and would be easier to understand and remember, too!)

      Obviously, the Amish can be good sports for a good cause!

      Alice Mary

    9. Brilliant Alice Mary, The Amish Book of Heckles (Strictly For Fun). I can see it sitting on shelves now.

      Like a lot of you I really got a kick out of these. I don’t expect it to be a regular feature at your average Amish school auction anytime soon though. But in the city? What happens in Philly… 😉