This Sunday, the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum in Lansford will be celebrating Labor Day weekend with their annual picnic featuring homemade ethnic foods, a Civil War living history encampment, coal mine and museum tours, and music. All activities will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, rain or shine.

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 at the picnic. This is a great value for families and those looking for a day out that doesn’t break the bank.

The Civil War living history encampment, which will be both Saturday and Sunday, demonstrates what life was like for soldiers during the battle, what a typical camp looked like, what kind of dress they wore, and the struggles they faced.

Visitors can also take a guided tour of the historic No. 9 Coal Mine, which opened in 1855 and experience what it was like to work underground in a coal mine. Visitors will ride the mine train 1,600 feet inside the mountain and then begin a fascinating walking tour to see many of the unique features of this mine, including the massive elevators and shaft, the go-devil machine, the muleways, second escapeway, the mine hospital, a cave-in site, and fossils.

Back on the surface, visitors can browse the exhibits and artifacts featured inside the No. 9 Mining Museum, one of the largest in the region.

The picnic on Sunday will feature homemade coal region ethnic foods including halupki, halushki, pierogies in butter and onions, barbecue, ham and bean soup, hot dogs, corn on the cob, homemade desserts and beverages. Visitors can eat under the picnic pavilion or takeouts are available. Music will be provided by DJ Shawn Frederickson on Sunday.

The No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum is located at 9 W. Dock St. in Lansford, only 15 minutes from Jim Thorpe or Tamaqua, just off Route 209. Mine tour tickets can be purchased in the gift shop upon arrival. For further information, call the museum at 570-645-7074.