With live music, food and refreshments all for a good cause, ZooStock is once again the place to be for Labor Day.

“People come from all over. This event has become very popular,” said Lisa Hiles, a volunteer organizer for the American Cancer Society benefit.

The family friendly event is Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Half Time Bar & Grill at The Zoo, 390 W. Snyder Ave., Lansford.

ZooStock is a Labor Day staple in the area, having started in 1999 under Jesse Hiles, the original owner of the Sports Zoo.

“His original concept was to have a ‘party in my yard’ and to give the proceeds to a worthy cause - the American Cancer Society,” Lisa Hiles said. “The idea took off and ZooStock ran for 20 continuous years.”

In 2019, ZooStock took on the name LocStock and was held in Lehighton. It returned to Lansford in 2020. The new owners of the venue, Kevin and Dee Zuercher embraced the community effort, Lisa Hiles said.

She suggested that attendees bring lawn chairs to watch the outdoor performances.

“ZooStock is - and has always been - chock full of local talent. Kevin always has surprises up his sleeve,” Lisa Hiles said. “Last year, Jimmy Leahey from band of Dennis DeYoung of STYX fame and his trio called The Grey Man Group joined the fun and will be performing for us again this year.”

Rounding out the lineup are Local Boyz, Livin’ the Dream, Gunslinger, Jeremy Edge Project, The Benny Band and Keystone Groove.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Annual commemorative ZooStock T-shirts will also be sold.

“This year’s shirt is super cool. Pre-sales are in record numbers,” she said.

There will be basket raffles and 50/50 chances.

“The Labor Day event always marks the start of the new fundraising year for the Telethon,” American Cancer Society volunteer Joe Krushinsky said. “By end of August, all the pledges and sponsorships and donations announced at the April Telethon are paid up and put to work in the lifesaving mission of the American Cancer Society. Our 2022 efforts generated about $225,000. ZooStock is the first step in trying to beat that number for 2023. We are grateful to individual volunteers and local organizations like the Lansford American Legion post for their commitment to making the event happen.

“I never thought we could be so fortunate a second time, but the Zuerchers, Kevin, Dee, and Kevin’s sister Cheryl Adams have really continued in the Hiles tradition of making this event a family project, as well as a great charitable community event. They like so many families in the region know firsthand what it means to face loss of family to cancer.”