It's hard to believe that Zoostock was once just a small, afternoon picnic on the back lawn of the Sports Zoo in Lansford.

Eighteen years later, it is still a one-day event, but it has grown immensely. It attracts several thousand people throughout the day, has numerous bands perform and raises thousands of dollars every year for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.The 19th annual Zoostock, staged Monday on the Sports Zoo grounds, was deemed to be a huge success.Lisa Hiles, an organizer and one of the founders of Zoostock, said she was happy with the turnout. "The weather is gorgeous, which helps a lot. It makes a big difference when you can set up and things aren't blowing around."Zoostock was the brainchild of Jesse Hiles, an owner of the Sports Zoo, who decided to host a picnic on the grounds.By the second year, it grew to be a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and included bands, vendors and special events.Lisa Hiles estimates that as much as $200,000 has been raised for the ACS in the 19-year history of the festival.She said in the first 10 years, about $5,000 to $10,000 per year was raised. For the past six or seven years, the festival as well as its accompanying miniature golf tournament have netted about $20,000 per year.Zoostock was modeled after the famous Woodstock festival; an outdoor concert by several different bands in a partying atmosphere.At Zoostock, Hiles said, "Everybody pays for free. Just about everything we sell is donated."Jesse Hiles added, "We originally just had a picnic. It grew and grew.""It's been very successful," he said.Some of the bands have been performing at Zoostock for years.Ann Marie Calabrese, a Zoostock committee member who served as emcee, said the band The 3 of Us missed just one Zoostock.New this year was The Johnny Cash Experience, with David Stone Ryan of Philadelphia impersonating Johnny Cash and Leighann Burke performing as June Carter Cash.They sang many of Cash's hits including "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line."Ryan said he brought his act to Zoostock because he feels the event is for a great cause.He said he is a cancer survivor, having overcome leukemia.Ryan has performed several times on the American Cancer Society Telethon held each April."I've traveled all over the country," Ryan said, noting he even played at San Quentin State Prison in California, which is memorialized in a Johnny Cash song."I've always been a Johnny Cash fan," he said.Other performers for Zoostock were Lyle Mantz, Free Range Folk, Camel Kick, The Local Boys, Toolshed Jack and Another Day Dawns.Among the people in the audience was professional wrestler Gene Snisky, a former title contender in the WWE. Snisky, a former Nesquehoning resident, was with his wife, Diahann, a former resident of Coaldale. Snisky, who several years ago wrestled in a benefit for Zoostock, said his mother-in-law is a cancer survivor.Calabrese said although this year's Zoostock is unquestionably a success, planning is already started for next year."That's our 20th anniversary and I'm already thinking about it," she said.