Old King Coal Festival

Southern Illinois just came out of the longest, coldest winter EVER.  So how lucky for us that the Old King Coal festival (normally slated for September) came early this year.

Luehr's Ideal Rides set up and maintained the midway this year.  There were more rides for children this year, but the same old favorite for us older kids (Starship 2000 being my personal favorite.)

As always, the OKC festival will have a full line-up of musical entertainment. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, the “Skyline Band” will take to the Main Stage across from the Moose Lodge. At 7 p.m., Friday, “We’ve Got It Covered,” a popular band who opened up for Blake Shelton during the Du Quoin State Fair will entertain from the main stage. On Saturday, the “Emily Clark Band” and “3rd Story” band will also be on the main stage starting at 9 p.m.

Of course it wouldn't be the OKC without the parade and memorial services honoring an industry whose men and women are rooted in West Frankfort. At 10 a.m. on Saturday the Coal Miners Memorial Service will be held at the Downtown Miners Memorial as will the induction of this year’s “Walk of Honor” inductee, Sylvia Tharp. At 1 p.m., the OKC parade will march down Main Street. Finally at 3 p.m. on Saturday a special tribute will be paid to the Coal Mining Industry at the main stage.

Jim Hall, 73, will reign over this year’s Old King Coal Festival.  Hall, a 1960 graduate of Frankfort Community High School, served in the U.S. Navy before beginning a career in the coal mines in 1967.  His mining experience spans more than three decades and includes stints as a roof bolter, mechanic, repairman, shuttle car operator, and scoop operator at a number of mines, including Old Ben 24, and Zeigler mines 2, 4, 5, and 11.  Hall, a 40-plus year member of the United Mine Workers of America, comes from a family of coal miners: His father, brother and uncle worked in the mines.  Hall has also taken an active role in the community, according to his friend Curt Innis, who nominated him for Old King Coal.

“Many people have seen Jim volunteering his time in our town to spruce up and clean up our city. He takes great pride in wanting to have the town’s appearance to be a welcoming sight to everyone,” Innis wrote. “He is very active in his church. He is always available to help with doctor’s appointments and anything else he can do to help his fellowman. He is always aware of other people and their needs, never hesitating to do what he can do to make their life a little bit easier.”

Samantha Steely, a senior at Frankfort Community High School, will preside over this year's Old King Coal Festival.  Steely was crowned Princess Flame 2014 on Saturday at the end of Princess Flame Pageant in Paschedag Auditorium.  Runner up was Janna JoAnn Harner of Dongola, who attends Shawnee Community College.  Next was Alyssa Reinhardt of Murphysboro, who attends SIU.

During the evening gown and on-stage question portion of the competition, which had nine contestants, Steely was asked by pageant emcee Andrew Chismar what makes her happy.  Steely said she likes being with her friends and losing herself in laughter.

"It's the small things in life that make us really happy when you think about it," she said.

Steely is the daughter of Jo and the late James Steely. She plans to attend SIU and study nursing.  The winner of the Teen Princess Flame pageant was Ivy Nessa of Du Quoin. She is the daughter of Angie and Shawn Nessa.  The runner up was Madison Mueller of Murphysboro. She is the daughter of Kimberly and Michael Mueller.

For me, the highlight of any fair is the food, and OKC is no exception.  They have several specialty booths along with all your standard midway fare.

There were a lot more games this year, too.  To be honest though, it's far from the highlight of the midway.  Not many people were playing the games.

OKC has always bee good about local crafts.  There's a whole section of booths with craft and handmade items, and everyone is so friendly.  The people are what make Southern Illinois so great.  

If you would like to keep up with or attend next years OKC festival, go to www.oldkingcoal.com 

DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

So here we are, it's getting warmer, and as soon as that happens, the first thing any good Illinoisan thinks of is the State Fair.  Cuz you know, it's kind of the biggest thing about summer.

We did finally, after living in Southern Illinois for eight years, attend the DuQuoin State Fair.  You know, we're from the Springfield area, and after so many summers at the Springfield State Fair....it kind of felt like betrayal.  But the butter cow was present, so I guess in a way, a state fair is a state fair.

While reading up on the fairgrounds I discovered that they were originally the Old Black Gold strip mine.  This was filled in, leveled,  and landscaped by William R. Hayes in 1939.  There were no electric lights. The wooden grandstand held just 3,000 people. The oval race track was but a half mile around. But it was the first of many fairs to follow. And the first of many firsts for the fair.  In 1924 it had it's first horse show, and we now have horse and livestock shows year ground in a massive, beautifully crafted show barn and holding stalls, which are now part of the magnificent livestock exhibitions held yearly at the fair.

The grandstand and flanking bleachers now seat 18,000. The fair's nightly stage shows now feature class acts from Las Vegas, Broadway, Nashville, and other parts of the country. Bob Hope, Sammy Davis, Jr., Alabama, Willie Nelson, Jim Nabors, the Bee Gees and countless other top entertainers have shared the stage over the past 69 years.  My husband and I saw Firehouse, Trixter and Warrant in 2012.

Labor Day weekend traditionally draws a packed grandstand for auto racing. Auto racing events have included such greats as A. J. Foyt, Tony Bettenhausen, and Mario Andretti. And harness racing, still the mainstay of the fair, continues to draw people from across the country to see the World Trotting Derby, just as they came for 24 years to see the Hambletonian before it.

The Southern Illinois Center is located on the fairgrounds, and we've been there on many occasions.  They host everything from Demo derbies, the Shriner's Circus, motorcycle and go-kart racing, tractor pulls, and Monster Truck Nationals (which we've gone to the last two years.)

Then of course, there's the fair...the rides, the food, the fun.  They have a good section of rides for all ages, and even I rode a few last year, bringing back memories of fairs past.  

The expo building is full of sellers peddling wares, but they are good ones.  Scentsy, unique handbags, and even a wine tasting (which of course we imbibed!)   There's little fun things all over the fair, booths for all manner of organizations, a magic show, petting zoo, and fun little billboards set up for photo ops. 

And the games! Right off the rides is a huge row of games, for big kids, little kids, kids at heart....

And if nothing else, come for the food.  Traditional fried fair food, local favorites...there isn't anything you could crave that you won't find here.  No matter what you come to the fair for, I promise you won't be disappointed.

You can find dates and lineups for the fair here:

http://www.agr.state.il.us/dq/

How to get there:

Take I-57 to the Benton exit, and turn West towards DuQuoin.  You can't miss the fairgrounds!