Rain or shine, the fourth annual Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival will go on from noon to 9 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 10, at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. But guests should not fear inclement weather! Depending on the weather the musical entertainment and Kiddie Koal Mine may be moved indoors to the Penn State Fayette Community Center, and the Coal and Coke Heritage Center already is indoors in the lower level of the library building and will be open for tours.
This year’s musical entertainment will feature several national and local performers, including Johnny Angel and The Halos, Harold Betters, The Stickers, Dr. Zoot and the Suits, NewLanders, Tres Lads, and the Augsburg German Band. The Community Center’s Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium is serving as the community stage and will feature local musical performers and dance ensembles.
The littlest of festival-goers will be able to stay nice and dry by visiting the Kiddie Koal Mine in the Auxiliary Gym in the Community Center. Children will have an opportunity to enjoy several exciting activities including inflatable amusements and craft activities provided by Touchstone Center for Crafts.
Depending on the weather the morning of the festival, arts and crafts and other vendors will be situated indoors or outside. A delicious variety of food including cupcakes, popcorn, pulled pork, chicken and more will be available for purchase.
Visitors to the festival will want to stop by the Coal and Coke Heritage Center to learn about the history of coal mining and the culture of the region. A special exhibit on blacksmithing and mining tools, photographs of miners, and historical artifacts from the homes of mining families will be on display. Weather permitting, Nick Ireys from Touchstone Center for Crafts will be demonstrating blacksmithing at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
After seeing the history of coal mining, guests can learn about the present and future of mining technology. Miners with Alpha Natural Resources will be available outside of the Coal and Coke Heritage Center to show examples of the latest technology available in the mines today.
A new addition to this year’s festival is a car show sponsored by the Penn State Fayette student organization, S.H.I.F.T.
Tickets to the Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival are $5 at the gate; children 4 years old and younger get in free. Miners also get in free with their Miner Certification Card, UMWA card, company ID card, miner's belt or miner's hard hat. Additional details about the festival are available at The Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival website at www.coalandcokemusicfest.org online.