Hundreds of visitors took part in the No. 9 Mine and Museum's 6th annual Coal Miner's Heritage Festival in Lansford over the weekend.

"This was another very successful festival," said festival chair Dale Freudenberger. "We had over 55 vendors and exhibits.""This unique, fun and educational event celebrates northeastern Pennsylvania's coal region history, culture, art, crafts, food, and music," added Freudenberger.Some of the key attractions consisted of the underground mine tours, coal miner's competition, coal sack races, Buster the Clown, Dr. Kelly's Old Time Traveling Medicine Show, local historical society exhibits, mine safety and rescue displays, performances by the Eckley Patchtown Players, glitter body art, rock painting childrens games, and so on.Joe Gressen of Lansford won the coal shovel contest.Numerous local and regional organizations were also represented at the festival with exhibits or booths, to include the National Canal Museum, DEP Mine Safety and Rescue Unit, Holmes Mine Safety Assn., Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Eckley Miners Village, Lansford Historical Society, Lansford Fire Department, Summit Hill Community Improvement Organization, Summit Hill Heritage Center, Carbon County Navy Club, Carbon County Labor Society and others.Art works and photography by Frank Wyso, Joe Evanousky, Scott Herring, Jack Savitsky, Nicholas Bervinchak, Renie Novak and others were also on display."We already have plans to expand and add special new attractions for next year's festival," said Freudenberger.The Coal Miners Heritage Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Carbon County Commissioners and the County Room Tax Fund.Event organization assistance is provided through support from the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.To participate or for more information about events at the mine or the festival, call Freudenberger at (610) 377-4063.