This Sunday, the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum in Lansford will be celebrating Labor Day weekend with a picnic featuring homemade ethnic foods, coal mine and museum tours, music, and the Living History Encampment.

All activities will take place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.Parking, admission to the grounds, music and the Living History Encampment are all free to the public.A fee is charged only for the mine and museum tours and food purchased."This is a great value for families and those looking for a day out that doesn't break the bank," said Dale Freudenberger of the museum board.The Living History Civil War Encampment demonstrates what life was like for soldiers during the battle, what a typical camp looked like, the kind of dress they wore, and the struggles they faced.The encampment will include gun firing demonstrations, an old-time wash display, etc.The Living History Encampment will also be on the grounds on Saturday, the day before the picnic.Each day, visitors can also tour the historic No. 9 Coal Mine, which opened in 1855, and experience what it was like to work underground in a coal mine.No. 9 Mine is marking the 160th anniversary of its opening.Visitors can ride the mine train 1,600 feet inside the mountain and then begin a walking tour to see many of the unique features of this mine including the elevator shaft, the go-devil machine, the muleways, second escapeway, the mine hospital, the cave-in site, and fossils.Back on the surface, visitors can browse the vast exhibits featured inside the No. 9 Mining Museum, one of the largest in the region.On Sunday only, the old-fashioned picnic will be selling homemade ethnic foods including halupki, halushki, perogies, barbecue, ham and bean soup, hot dogs, corn on the cob, homemade desserts and beverages that are common to the coal region.Visitors can eat in the picnic pavilion or take out. Entertainment will be provided at the picnic by DJ Shawn Frederickson and strolling musician Luigi playing the accordion.The No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum is located at 9 Dock St. in Lansford, only 15 minutes from Jim Thorpe or Tamaqua off Route 209.Mine tour tickets can be purchased in the gift shop upon arrival.For further information, call 570-645-7074.