Wayside Presbyterian Church pastor Steve Fritz calls it "a joyful noise."

He is referring to the Waystock Community Music & Family Fun Fest, an annual event whose 13th edition will be held Saturday, June 14, from noon to 4:30 p.m. on the grounds of Wayside Presbyterian Church, 600 Stony Battery Road, Landisville.

Waystock is free. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. If it rains, the event will be held inside the church. For more information about Wayside Presbyterian Church and Waystock, go to https://waysidepc.org.

Monetary contributions and nonperishable canned goods will be accepted and donated to the Hempfield Area Food Pantry, which is at Zion Lutheran Church. Fritz said Wayside members regularly volunteer at the food pantry. "We identified them as our mission, so it's neighbors helping neighbors," said Fritz.

Anyone who brings five or more canned goods will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gas card.

Four local bands will perform on the main stage. Basic Connection will start at noon, followed by Rural City Revival at approximately 1:05 p.m., Blue Sky Falls at 2:10 p.m., and Grace Notes at 3:15 p.m.

Grace Notes, Wayside's praise band, typically plays at the church's second (contemporary) service on Sundays.

"Grace Notes is a great group of musicians that I am blessed and honored to perform with," said Pat Karkotsky, the band's drummer.

Grace Notes is planning to play a wide variety of tunes in its set. "We'll be doing stuff from Journey's 'Separate Ways' to praise music like 'I Thank God,'" Karkotsky said. "We play a little bit of secular music, a little bit of Christian music, a little country music, some Eagles. We try to play a variety which showcases what the band can do, and it's not just in one category."

Grace Notes vocalist Michael McDonald is Waystock's music coordinator. "(Waystock) is centered around a Christian faith, but it doesn't necessarily have to be Christian music," said McDonald, who has performed with Christopher Cross and Christine McVie. "There will be family-friendly music for people of all ages."

Fritz said, "Our passion is taking the music outside the walls. It's great inside, but it's the band that travels more than a Bible study. That group carries the Wayside name wherever it goes. ... Music has a way of touching the soul. Literally reverberating within our bodies and minds and our hearts to wake us up to spiritual realities."

The pastor noted that music can be beneficial to those who are struggling. "Music has a way of stirring people quite physiologically to be open to hearing the good news of the Gospel. A song may work for somebody where a sermon may not. The music is a platform for preaching the Good News to the public. It really is a stimulating way of spiritual ministry, and you'll hear it if you live around here."

Other bands will perform "unplugged" in the gazebo between the acts on the main stage.

A silent auction will be held featuring collectibles and entertainment and retail gift cards.

There will also be a "Kidz Block Party," including an inflatable obstacle course; snow cones; popcorn; Wawa's soft pretzels; Hershey's ice cream; and a visit from Cylo, the Lancaster Stormers' mascot.

"It will truly be a block party feel with good, wholesome, upbeat music," Fritz said. "There will be a Christian message."

Fritz said the church is grateful for its sponsors, including Frank Richards and Richards Energy Group, Scott and Linda Keller of Susquehanna Micro Inc., The Wawa Foundation, McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, and High Transit LLC.

"One of our missions is to be a beacon of connection with our neighbors," Fritz said. It's all part of Wayside's five-year development plan called What's Next. "We want to be more invitational to our neighbors," said the pastor.

Waystock, a combination of Wayside and Woodstock, is the brainchild of Grace Notes bass player Chris Rowles, Fritz said. The inaugural event took place on the church's front lawn. "The first one was a trial balloon," said Fritz. "It was well-received, and Waystock has grown very big."

Fritz added, "It's fun. It's energizing. It's good also for the congregation to put their faith into action. It's not just giving something away; it's providing an opportunity for us to get involved."