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Old King Coal returns to West Frankfort

  • Local favorite "Blend" brings doo-wop hits from the '50s and '60s at beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday night.

    Local favorite "Blend" brings doo-wop hits from the '50s and '60s at beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday night.
    Photo provided

  • Blue Suede Crew hits the main stage Thursday, taking festival-goers on a journey through some of the greatest hits of rock 'n' roll. There will be dancing in the street with hits from Bill Haley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and the King himself, Elvis Presley. It only gets better when the Crew launches into a special tribute to the music of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Elton John, the Stones and more. The show kicks off at 6 p.m.

    Blue Suede Crew hits the main stage Thursday, taking festival-goers on a journey through some of the greatest hits of rock 'n' roll. There will be dancing in the street with hits from Bill Haley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and the King himself, Elvis Presley. It only gets better when the Crew launches into a special tribute to the music of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Elton John, the Stones and more. The show kicks off at 6 p.m.
    Photo provided

  • Lew Jetton and 61 South bring a critically acclaimed "Southern-fried" Chicago blues sound to the stage at 8:30 p.m. Friday night.

    Lew Jetton and 61 South bring a critically acclaimed "Southern-fried" Chicago blues sound to the stage at 8:30 p.m. Friday night.
    Photo provided

  • Bill Forness and the Johnny Cash Tribute Band have mastered the essence of a real Johnny Cash performance with favorites including 'Ring of Fire,' 'Folsom Prison Blues,' 'I Walk the Line' and 'Jackson.' They come on stage at 6 p.m. Saturday, followed by the '80s hits of the Brat Pack.

    Bill Forness and the Johnny Cash Tribute Band have mastered the essence of a real Johnny Cash performance with favorites including 'Ring of Fire,' 'Folsom Prison Blues,' 'I Walk the Line' and 'Jackson.' They come on stage at 6 p.m. Saturday, followed by the '80s hits of the Brat Pack.
    Photo provided

  • Music continues at 1 p.m. Sunday with the country-based Cadillac Jones Band bringing the sounds of Garth, Jennings, Jones, Haggard, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and more.

    Music continues at 1 p.m. Sunday with the country-based Cadillac Jones Band bringing the sounds of Garth, Jennings, Jones, Haggard, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and more.
    Photo provided

 
Staff Report
Posted on 5/9/2017, 5:45 AM

Nostalgia comes to Southern Illinois this week as West Frankfort's Old King Coal Festival gets underway with the theme "I Love Coal" Thursday, May 11.
This year's "Old King Coal," Charles A. Bartoni Jr., and "Princess Flame," Lexie Tourville, will reign over the festival, which runs May 11 to 14 in downtown West Frankfort.
The annual festival features a midway beginning Thursday, the Coal Miners Memorial Service at 10 a.m. Saturday at Coal Miners Memorial Park, the parade at 1 p.m. Saturday, and lots of food and crafts. Thursday is "family night" on the midway, with all rides requiring just one ticket to ride. Family-ride pricing returns Sunday afternoon.
All concerts are free. Festival-goers are urged to bring lawn chairs for the concerts.
Cash prizes will be awarded on the main stage immediately following the parade Saturday. The categories include best of show, best church, best business, best club/organization and best coal theme.
The festival, which began in 1941 in West Frankfort, celebrates the coal mining industry every year during the second weekend of May.
For a complete schedule of events, head to oldkingcoalfestival.org.

 
 
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