Local News

Coal Country Fall Festival

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 10:14:11 CDT
The Coal Country Chamber of Commerce will hold its 16th annual Fall Festival from 10am until 4pm on Saturday, September 27. in the Benld City Park.

The Ninth Annual Tour de Coal bike ride will also be run in conjunction with the festival starting with a 6:30am to 9:00am registration at the Benld City Hall.

Musical entertainment will be provided by the Dixie Dudes from 11:30am until 1:00pm and Steve Davis in "Memories of Elvis" with his friends Anna Blair as Patsy Cline and Thomas Hickey as Buddy Holly will be the afternoon‘s entertainment from 1 until 4pm.

A petting zoo with live full-grown Alaskan Reindeer with antlers will be returning. Some of the other full grown animals are camels, donkeys, buffalo and pygmy goats. They will be on display from 10am to 4pm near the children‘s area of the festival. Admission to the petting zoo is free and animal feed is available for $1 per bag.

Another popular show is the Reptile Show shared with the Festival by Dr. Richard Crowell of the Biology Department of Blackburn College. Crowell brings a collection of native and exotic snakes and lizards.Persons attending the Reptile Show from around 1:30 until 2:30pm will learn about various species as well as be able to handle some ot the reptiles.

Numerous craft vendors, food booths, other activities and the Coal Country Choo Choo will be availabe throughout the day.