‘Coal’s Many Products’ theme of annual Coal Show
CARMICHAELS — The 61st Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Festival will be celebrated throughout the week beginning Saturday and running through Aug. 23.
The annual event, sponsored and coordinated by the King Coal Association, will feature a wide array of activities, contests, exhibits, rides and more.
This year’s Coal Show, which features the theme of “Coal’s Many Products,” kicks off Saturday with the first annual King Coal 5K Race at the fire hall grounds at 8:30 a.m. (with registration beginning at 7:45 a.m.), and the 24th annual Sara Ruth Memorial Golf Outing at 8:30 a.m. at Carmichaels Golf Club.
The 61st annual Coal Queen Pageant will be held Sunday at the State Theatre in Uniontown. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the pageant will begin at 7 p.m.
The festival will resume Tuesday with the state mine rescue first aid contest at the Carmichaels Area High School stadium at 11 a.m. Admission is free.
Also on Tuesday, the Baby Prince and Princess contests will be held in the Carmichaels fire hall from 6-10 p.m. and a corn hole tournament will be held from 6:30-10 p.m. The carnival will open Tuesday, with disc jockey Dave Plavi performing from 7-10 p.m. The carnival will be open through Saturday, Aug. 23, on the grounds of the Carmichaels Volunteer Fire Department.
On Wednesday, mine rescue teams will take part in the Pennsylvania Bituminous Safety Association’s mine rescue contest, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Carmichaels Area High School stadium. Wednesday also will feature exhibits, entertainment, contests, a DJ and the carnival, as well as the 48th annual Children’s Pet Parade. The parade will line up at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Yoskovich Funeral Home.
On Thursday, the state mine benchman and examiner contests will be held at 8 a.m. at the high school stadium. Admission is free. Thursday also will feature exhibits and contests, as well as the 43rd annual Bill Gideon Memorial Decorated Bicycle Parade. This event will line up at 5:30 p.m. in the Yoskovich parking lot. Also on Thursday, Plavi will perform on the carnival grounds from 7 to 10 p.m.
Events on Friday, Aug. 22, will include exhibits, contests and the carnival, as well as a free music performance from the band “Hit-N-Run” on the fire hall grounds from 7-10 p.m. There also will be a coal informational program from Julie Porterfield and Elaine DeFrank of the Coal and Coke Heritage Center at Penn State University, The Eberly Campus, in the fire hall from 7-8 p.m. Also, winners will be announced at 8 p.m. for the King Coal Prince and Princess contests in the fire hall.
The Coal Show will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 23, with several events, including a car show, car parade, the annual King Coal Parade and more.
The 61st annual King Coal Charles Workman Memorial Car Show will be held at Wana B Park from 12:30-3 p.m., with registration starting at 10 a.m. Registration is $8. Admission is free for spectators.
The 61st annual King Coal Charles Workman Memorial Car Parade will begin at 3:50 p.m. and will be followed by the 61st annual King Coal Parade at 4 p.m.
The carnival will be open from 5-11 p.m. and a performance from the band “The Hamptons” will be held on the fire hall grounds from 7-10 p.m.
And all throughout the week of the Coal Show, bingo, coal souvenirs, hot foods and baked goods will be offered in the fire hall.
For general information about the 61st annual Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Festival, visit online at www.kingcoalshow.org.