One of the region's largest coal-region cultural and heritage celebrations will take place Sunday, rain or shine, near the Carbon-Schuylkill County border.

The eighth annual Coal Miners Heritage Festival will be held on the grounds of the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum in Lansford from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.The colorful event offers free admission and free parking, and is unique in that it's one of few festivals that doesn't take place in a downtown setting.This year's installment will showcase the varied musical genres of bluegrass and folk through the talents of "Serene Green." The band will play from noon to 4.If things go as planned, a live broadcast of the WMGH Polka program with veteran entertainer Polka Joe Manjack of Tamaqua will start the morning off.Strolling folk musician David Matsinko, a Panther Valley native, will entertain throughout the day with authentic tunes of days gone by.DJ Shawn also is part of the lineup and will play popular coal region local folk music between sets.Craft and sales vendors will set up along the grass, according to organizer Dale Freudenberger. Space is still available.Coal region artist Joe Evanousky will display original works of arts, prints, cards and T-shirts, and area photographer Owl Creek Joe will present nature and historical photos.The brave and hearty will be invited to take part in coal shoveling competition with trophies awarded to the top three finishers. Coal sack races are on tap, as well.Buster the Clown will provide fun for kids aged 1 to 99.Also featured, weather permitting, will be a very rare example of one of the world's first bicycles. It is a nickel-plated 1887 Columbia Light Roadster model produced by the Albert Pope Manufacturing Co. It is signed and dated, one of the world's earliest racing machines, courtesy of the Victorian Highwheelers of Tamaqua.Displays of antique vehicles, small-town brewery trays, and antique coal signs from all over the anthracite region will be showcased.Artwork displays from coal region folk artists Jack Savitsky, Nicholas Bervinchak and others will be shown.Patch-town life historical reenactors will stroll the grounds and greet visitors.State deep mine safety and mine rescue vehicles will be on display.There will be an old time "wash day in the patch" display and demonstration, old-time moonshine still display, and a display of antique bathing tubs.Dr. Kelly's Old Time Medicine Show will offer his tongue-in-cheek, cure-all elixirs for those feeling under the weather, Freudenberger said."Nineteenth century death and burial customs will be discussed by our resident undertaker who will display original artifacts," he said.Those who worked in or around the mines will be able to get a free health screening while at the festival.The museum will be open to the public with thousands of mining artifacts and photos by famous coal region photographers including George Harvan and Scott Herring.The main attraction will be underground mine tours of the 160-year-old mine, opened 1855."Ride the train into the mine and then embark on a fascinating walking tour to see the 900-foot deep elevator shaft, the Go Devil machine, the narrow mule-ways, the breast where the miners mined the coal, and the underground hospital hewn out of solid rock," Freudenberger said.Contact Freudenberger at 610-597-6722 or

dalefreud@gmail.com.The No. 9 Mine is located 4 miles east of Tamaqua and 10 miles west of Jim Thorpe.