2018 Nominations for Old King Coal

By Marcia Raubach 

WEST FRANKFORT –  Steve Sawalich, President of the Southern Illinois Old King Coal festival, announced today that the deadline for nominations for 2018 Old King Coal is Friday, March 30^th. The honor is bestowed annually to a deserving coal miner. Old King Coal will be crowned during the Princess Flame Scholarship Pageant on Sasturday, April 21 at the West Frankfort High School Auditorium  and will  reign over this year’s festival to be held May 10^th thru the13th in downtown West Frankfort. This year’s festival theme is “Old King Coal Salutes America” .

Old King Coal President Steve Sawalich (left) is shown congratulating 2017 Old King Coal of West Frankfort, Charles A. Bartoni, Jr, in front of the Coal Miners Memorial monument at Coal Miners Memorial Park

All Southern Illinois coal miners are eligible, regardless of age or number of years they have worked in the mines. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the festival website at www.oldkingcoalfestival.org. Forms are also available at the West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, West Frankfort city hall water office or at Advanced Hearing in the West Frankfort Outlet Mall. Nominations are to be mailed to Old King Coal Festival, P.O. Box 242, West Frankfort, Illinois 62896 by March 30^th, 2018.

This year’s festival kicks off Thursday, May 10^th with Family Night on the midway and “Cadillac Jones Band” on the main stage beginning at 6PM. Other free entertainment on the main stage each evening include “We Got It Covered” and “Brat Pack” on Friday,  “Jake Hoult Band” and Ronnie McDowell on Saturday and “ Cassie Andrews & Calico Creek” on Sunday afternoon. Other events include the annual Coal Miners Memorial Service at Coal Miners Memorial Park at 10AM Saturday. Grand Parade at 1 PM featuring the patriotic theme, “Wave On Old Glory” and a celebrity auction on Saturday evening on the main stage.

For a complete schedule of events or to download entry forms for Old King Coal nominations, Princess Flame Scholarship Pageant, Old King Coal parade or booth space information go to www.woldkingcoalfestivl.org.