Coal is King in Greene County

For 69 years, Greene County, Pennsylvania has been home to a very special week-long celebration recognizing the rich coal mining history and heritage of the area and Southwestern Pennsylvania region.

Held annually in the small and charming town of Carmichaels, the celebration – known as the Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Festival – proudly showcases a multitude of events that provide entertainment for the whole family, as well as a true salute to the coal miners who dedicated their lives through hard work to help create the coal mining town.

This year’s Coal Festival in Carmichaels will be held August 17-24, 2024 and will once feature the attractions that people in and out the county who visit the show each day and all week long greatly cherish.

Many of the Coal Show’s traditional activities will return this year. Saturday, August 17th kicks off with the King Coal/Sara L. Ruth Memorial Golf Outing. On Sunday, August 19th, a new event will take place at the Carmichaels-Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Department in the morning called Battle of the Barrel. It is a contest between local fire departments and food trucks will be present for refreshments. In the evening, a new Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen will be crowned among regional contestants to reign over the festivities.

The Carmichaels-Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Department will be the center of the festival for musical performances, exhibitors, food, the King Coal Prince/Princess contest, and children’s inflatable activities beginning Tuesday, August 20th.

Parades will appeal to event goers of all ages with the Children’s Pet Parade on Wednesday, August 21 followed by the Bill Gideon Memorial Decorated Bicycle Parade for all ages on Thursday, August 22. The featured parade, the King Coal Parade, will travel through Carmichaels on Saturday, August 24 following the King Coal Charles Workman Memorial Auto/Motorcycle Show.

The annual Coal Show is coordinated through the efforts of the King Coal Association, which was formed in 1953 to celebrate regional mining and also to foster the development and advancement of the bituminous coal industry.

The first event was held in October that year and only offered a few activities over the span of several days, but through the years the Coal Show has blossomed into the week-long celebration that it is today.

Another reason why the annual Coal Show is so special is that the King Coal Association is a non-profit organization and all profits raised during the week-long event are donated to its three member organizations that are dedicated and committed to helping others in need.

Make no mistake, Greene County’s rich coal mining history is greatly deserving of an annual recognition, which is why thousands flock to the quaint town of Carmichaels each and every year to join in the celebration.

The Coal Show offers much, much more than fun events and parades, it is a true celebration of not just the history of bituminous coal mining in the Southwest Pennsylvania region, but also of the legacies of the coal miners who helped create this special town.

So come to Greene County the week of August 17-24, 2024 and experience the Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Show … and see for yourself why Coal is King!

Follow the King Coal Association on Facebook for the latest schedule updates.