Put on the neon colors, leg warmers and the acid washed denim, it’s time to support a good cause by going back to the ’80s.

Ameristar Casino and the Salvation Army are teaming up to raise money through a concert featuring Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Machine Thursday, Nov. 12, at Ameristar’s Bottleneck Blues Bar.

“They play anywhere from ’70s to ’80s music,” Jaque Poirier, vice president of casino operations at Ameristar, said. “They have giant wigs. They’re a lot of fun to watch.”

The band is popular locally and should bring out large crowds.

“I’ve heard they’ve got a huge following, and they’re suppose to be a pretty good ’80s band,” Kamace Priest of The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of Vicksburg said.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served from 6:30 to until 7:30 p.m. with a cash bar available. The band will hit the stage at 8:30 p.m.

A costume contest will be held at the show where the top three people decked out in their best ’80s gear will win money. First place receives $500, second will get $250 and third place earns $100.

“Hopefully we’ll have some good ’80s costumes there and have a good turnout and it’ll be a successful event,” Priest said.

Other fundraising opportunities will be available to people who attend the concert.

“They’ll also be doing some fundraising inside of the event through cash donations.  They’ll also be doing some raffling for door prizes you can by tickets for, and all of their money goes directly into their programs,” Poirier said.

He said some of those programs include an afterschool robotics course for students in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers and The Salvation Army’s food bank among others.

“Our money will be used for social services such as families, rental assistance, utility assistance,” Priest said.

Poirier is also on the board at The Salvation Army. He is glad to be able to support the organization through his job at Ameristar.

“The Salvation Army was kind of in a bad spot from a funding standpoint, and so they’ve done some things to be more creative and more diverse in getting new funding to their organization,” Poirier said. “We felt like Ameristar could partner with them by doing a fun event like this.”

About 220 tickets are still available and can be purchased for $25 each at The Salvation Army, 530 Mission 66, or from Priest at 601-218-8108.

“We’re just glad to have another opportunity to support our community and a local partner that does a lot of work for the kids and families of Vicksburg,” Poirier said. “[We’re] just excited. It’ll be a fun event. We hope we sell all those tickets and everybody comes out and has a really great time.”