Find not-so-spooky Halloween fun at Rock Ranch

Little ones can load up on treats and compete in costume contests during a full day of outside adventure at the Rock Ranch's "Not So Spooky" Halloween Fest on Saturday.

The 1,500-acre working cattle ranch will offer trick-or-treaters two chances to fill their bags with goodies this year.

"We know many families have special traditions, so we're offering an early trick-or-treat time at 1 p.m. for those families that may want to get on back home and do their usual Halloween traditions," said communications director Jennifer Symmes. "Our other trick-or-treat time block is from 5-7 p.m. for those families that want to stay with us all day."

Trick-or-treat stations include the Log Cabin, Tiny Town General Store, the Gift Shop, the corn maze exit, the Carousel, Farm Market and Gifts, and Southern Fixin's. Costume contests are divided into ages, including adults, and happen from 2-4:30 p.m.

Even Fido can join the festivities with dog-friendly treats at the trick-or-treat stations and a pet costume contest scheduled for 4 p.m. Athletic pooches will show off their skills at the third annual Skyhoundz Georgia State Disc Dog Championships and Skyhoundz Discdogathon World Championship Qualifiers.

"The freestyle show at 11 a.m. is the most fun to watch.Fun tricks are choreographed with music," said Mark Muir, with Georgia Irish Frisbee Dogs.

Former Atlanta Entertainer of the Year Tommy Johns will perform his magic shows at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. More magic is in store in the afternoon when magician Jeff Hicks performs at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Balloon twisting will be held before and after each show.

Visitors are challenged to explore the corn field maze, brave the zip line and take in the farm from a locomotive train.

"When you come to The Rock Ranch," said Symmes, "we can just about promise you that your kid is going to go home and just about pass out."

The truly tuckered out guests can stay overnight by reserving one of the Farm Stay houses or by camping in oversized Conestoga wagons, which are each equipped with eight bunk beds. Families also may reserve a campfire picnic site for their group for an entire day.

Pumpkin carving and painting stations offer outlets for creative visitors, and the more adventurous types can watch them be fired from pumpkin cannons at three different times during the afternoon or try their hand at pumpkin bowling.

Pumpkin fun doesn't end with Halloween. Visitors can demolish their jack-o-lanterns and work off Halloween sweets at the ranch's National Pumpkin Destruction Day on Nov. 7.

"Our motto is smash it, don't trash it," said Symmes. "You can make even more memories with your pumpkins."

Symmes says last year visitors recycled 6,000 pumpkins by bashing, smashing, chunking and even dropping their pumpkins off a 50-foot fork lift. There will be pumpkin-bombing airplanes, a monster truck pumpkin demolition and pumpkin archery.

Fall Family Fun Days

When: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 7

Where: The Rock Ranch, 5020 Barnesville Highway, The Rock

Cost: $15 for ages 3 and older

Information: www.therockranch.com; 706-647-6374

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Find not-so-spooky Halloween fun at Rock Ranch ."