Old King Coal Festival celebrates 80th anniversary
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS (WSIL) The Old King Coal Festival is returning to West Frankfort after having to be canceled last year due to COVID-19.
This year, will mark 80 years since the town first held the festival in 1941 as a way to pay respect to past and present coal miners, and what the industry did for the region.
Steve Sawalich, President of the Old King Coal festival, says although the country is starting to lean on other sources of energy, the reason for the celebration still stands today. At one time, there was eight coal mines in the city of West Frankfort and now there s none , explains Sawalich, who was once a coal minter himself. It s a dying breed unfortunately, but you re always going to have a need for that coal. Coal is what keeps the lights on.
Courtesy: Old King Coal Festival
WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. (WJPF) After a year’s hiatus due to COVID-19, West Frankfort’s Old King Coal festival returns Thursday.
Things begin at 5:00 p.m. and run through Sunday.
The annual Coal Miner’s Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 a.m..
(WSIL) You ve probably seen more and more of them on the road recently and it s likely you may have even ridden in one. Experts say more and more electric cars, or E-V s, are expected on the road in coming years.
Shifting to Electric Vehicles
The Chair of SIU s Automotive Department, Mike Behrmann, says that he s noticing a big shift in the industry. Well there s a major shift occurring right now in the automotive industry, towards more electrification and electrical propulsion systems, said Behrmann.
The shift to electric vehicles is happening, but it may not be for the reason you think. It is in part to reduce C0-2 emissions, but most electricity is still generated from polluting sources, like coal.
The Daily Yonder Q&A: Writer Chris Dennis on Place, Identity, and a Crippling Sense of Predestination If you wanted to exit the matrix of rural consciousness, there were only a couple ways out, but Dennis found a path that was purpose-driven and allowed him to stay connected to his community.
All photos courtesy of Chris Dennis.
I deleted my Facebook over a year ago. For me, it was the last of the brain-eating media to go. I thought it was benign, that it held nothing of interest to me and therefore couldn’t be instrumentalized for the postponement of getting out of bed in the morning, or reading past paragraph one.
Old King Coal Festival kicks off May 13 Old King Coal Jerry Harkins of West Frankfort and Princess Flame Julia Mohr will reign over the festival for 2021. (Source: Old King Coal Festival) By Amber Ruch | May 5, 2021 at 1:23 PM CDT - Updated May 5 at 1:23 PM
WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. (KFVS) - The Old King Coal Festival will kick off on Thursday, May 13 at 5 p.m. in downtown West Frankfort.
Old King Coal Jerry Harkins of West Frankfort and Princess Flame Julia Mohr will reign over the festival for 2021.
The festival runs from May 13-16.
Entertainment on the main stage each night is free. You can click here for the full line up of events.