The Lehighton Downtown Park was the place to be for the 6th Annual Rocktoberfest to support Cancer Awareness and the Lehighton Community, hosted by the Lehighton Downtown Partnership.

The two-day event was held in the lower park with North Street, South Street, and Constitution Avenue blocked off to accommodate the festivities.

Rocktoberfest was started in 2016 by Jared McElvoy, then president of the Lehighton Downtown Initiative.

“October is well known for its awareness of breast cancer … and we felt that it would be a worthwhile event for a great cause that hopefully becomes a tradition that we can carry on,” McEvoy said at that time.

One of the big draws was the Big Basket Auction by the Lehighton Fire Company, to benefit the fire department. Lehighton Downtown Partnership Manager Bambi Elsasser posted a video of the basket auction online showing more than 150 baskets, gift certificates, and other items for people to win.

“They work hard, they risk their lives for us, they protect our property and ourselves,” Elsasser said. “We hope people will support them.”

Live entertainment was provided by Eric Stimmler, Damian Walck, The Left Edge, Autumn Falls, Nicholas Desouza, and Out of Shape.

There was food for all tastes. Haluski, island rice and beans, and other Caribbean favorites, French fries, pierogies, chicken fingers, funnel cake, Mexican dishes, chili, and mac and cheese, just to name a few.

Other vendors included organizations and businesses selling homemade fudge, candy, home decorations, jewelry, crafts, jerky, and more.

The Pharoahs Car Club of Jim Thorpe and Carbon County held a car show both days, awarding trophies to the top three vehicles each day. The cars and trucks were lined up along South Street.

Other activities included making a scarecrow, painting a pumpkin, playing free games, plus taking a chance on the candy wheel or the dime pitch to win prizes. A horse-drawn wagon from Steiner Artisian Farm took visitors on rides.

Donation buckets raised funds for Perfect Balance Boutique, for people who need cancer-related products but cannot afford them, and for Blended Bakery of Lehighton, in support of their participation in “Beards for Breasts,” for which the staff at the bakery will be shaving their heads.