It will be a grand old time this Sunday May 26 as the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum in Lansford, celebrates the holiday with their annual Old Fashioned Miners Picnic and activities. The grounds will be filled with the sound of music, the smells of homemade ethnic foods, the sights of vintage and classic cars, and a special photo exhibit.

The annual event is scheduled from 10

a.m.untill 4 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission to the grounds is free, and there is plenty of free parking. A nominal fee is charged for the mine tours and museum, but all other activities are free and its close to home!From 11 a.m until 4 p.m. the Anthracite Region Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America will present an antique and classic car show and flea market. Anyone wishing to display their automobile can register the day of the picnic and car show. Dash plaques will be presented to the first 25 autos registered and there will also be door prizes. Music will be provided by DJ Shawn Frederickson and family.A special exhibit inside the mining museum will feature the photos of Scott Herring, "Last of the Anthracite Photographers." Additional photos will be added to this new permanent exhibit as the summer progresses.Also beginning at 11 a.m., the great variety of homemade ethnic foods will start to be served up at the picnic pavilion. The Old Fashioned Miners Picnic is a great family outing in the tradition of the old fashioned miner's picnics which were held years ago throughout the coal region. Many of the original picnics held locally for miners and families of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company were held at Greenwood Dam, near present day Lake Hauto. Many old timers remember it well! The picnic menu for the day includes great coal region ethnic favorites such as homemade halupki, halushki, pierogies done in butter and onions, homemade soup, beef barbecue, turkey barbecue, hot dogs with sauerkraut, homemade cakes and pies for dessert, and various beverages. Take outs are also available. Come early, have a great time and enjoy the great food before it sells out! Take outs are also available.Visitors won't want to miss the fascinating guided underground tours of the No. 9 Coal Mine which first opened in 1855. No. 9 is the world's oldest operating deep mine. Tours are just under one hour in length and include a train ride in and out of the mine. Visitors will also enjoy browsing the countless displays and artifacts inside the region's largest coal mining museum and gift shop located on the grounds.The Old Fashioned Miner's Picnic and activities is a great way to celebrate the Memorial Day Weekend with family and friends. Have some fun and learn more about our rich coal mining heritage. For further information, contact No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum at 570-645-7074 or visit us on the web at

www.no9mine.com. No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum is a 501 ©3 non-profit organization that preserves the legacy of coal mining in the Panther Valley.