BLOSSBURG, PA (May 4, 2018)… The Blossburg State Coal Festival committee has announced that they will host their second annual Senior Day on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Senior Day will include informational tables, a short program, entertainment, a free picnic dinner and a presentation on phone scams by Jill Pino, manager of the Mansfield branch of Citizens and Northern Bank.

This year’s Senior Day event will be held in downtown Blossburg in the parking lot of Riverside Plaza, giving visitors easy access to all of the downtown business. Admission will be free to all senior citizens visiting the Coal Festival on May 23. Ample parking is available.

Confirmed vendors that will have information booths set up include the Tioga County Sheriff’s Department, BeST Transit, Benedict’s Bus Service, the Area Agency on Aging, APPRISE, the Bloss Pharmacy, the Elder Services Workgroup and Haven of Tioga County.

A picnic dinner, provided by Momma’s Restaurant and Catering, The Brick Tavern, 242 Coffee Company and the Thompson family, will be served from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will be free of charge to any senior citizens or clients of any of the local residential, workplace or day programs attending Senior Day.

A disposal point for prescription drugs will be set up again this year by the Blossburg Police Department. Event attendees can turn in any outdated or unwanted prescription drugs they currently have during the program. Outdated or unwanted prescription drugs can also be turned in Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Blossburg Boro Office.

For those individuals or groups in need of transportation to and from Senior Day, BeST Transit is accepting reservations. Reservations can be made by calling 570-659-5330. Reservations should be made a minimum of three days ahead of time.

Coal Festival events on the Island Park begin at 6:00 p.m. with a performance by Justin Doud, the third place contestant in the Tioga County Fair Talent Show, as well as food vendors, booths and carnival games.

Senior Day has generously been sponsored by UPMC Susquehanna, the Bloss Pharmacy and the businesses and individuals listed above.

The Blossburg State Coal Festival has been held on Blossburg’s Island Park annually since 1992 and celebrates the area’s rich history in the coal mining industry. For more information on the history of the festival and for the latest schedule of events, please visit the festival’s website at www.coalfestival.com.

BLOSSBURG, PA (April 3, 2018)… The Blossburg State Coal Festival has announced that they will be awarding a $500 scholarship to a local high school student in place of their traditional Coal Festival King and Queen during the 2018 Blossburg Coal Festival.

Students who are enrolled in Southern Tioga School District, New Covenant Academy or reside within the Southern Tioga School District boundaries but are homeschooled, are juniors or seniors and are either already accepted to or have plans to pursue a post-secondary education are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Applicants are asked to write an essay on what the coal industry has done for this region. Essays will then be reviewed by a selection committee made up of Coal Festival committee members and select individuals from the local community. The scholarship will be awarded during the Royalty Pageant on Friday, May 25, 2018.

Those wishing to apply for this scholarship should return their essay and the completed paperwork found on the Coal Festival website to the address listed. Essays must be received no later than Wednesday, May 16, 2018. The scholarship recipient must be available to participate in the Coal Festival parade on Saturday, May 26, 2018.

The Prince and Princess contest will be held as normal. Applications for the Prince and Princess contest can be found by visiting the Coal Festival’s website, social media pages, picked up at the following businesses: Blossburg Boro Office, Blossburg Hardware, Momma’s Restaurant, the Brick Tavern, and the Blossburg branch of First Citizens National Bank. Applications must be received no later than Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

The Blossburg State Coal Festival has been held on Blossburg’s Island Park annually since 1992 and celebrates the area’s rich history in the coal mining industry. For more information on the history of the festival and for the latest schedule of events, please visit the festival’s website at www.coalfestival.com

BLOSSBURG, PA (April 2, 2018)… The Blossburg State Coal Festival has announced that they will be adding a beard contest to the schedule of events for this year’s festival which will be held on Blossburg’s Island Park beginning on Wednesday, May 23 until Saturday, May 26.

The committee has planned several categories for beards including Papa Beard (beards OVER 6 inches in length); Baby Beard (beards UNDER 6 inches in length); Not All There (goatee, sideburns, etc.); Bearderella and Crowd Favorite. Also include is the ‘Whiskerina’ category for ladies who want to ‘design their own beards’. Winners of these categories will be voted on at the festival on Saturday, May 26.

Also included is a Best Overall Beard category that will be voted on by donation throughout the duration of the festival.

PAPA BEARD (full beard OVER 6 inches)… beard appears as it grows naturally. The more natural the better! The mustache may not be highlighted. The beard may not be curled under at the bottom. No styling aids permitted.

BABY BEARD (full beard UNDER 6 inches)…beard appears as it grows naturally. The mustache may not be highlighted. The beard may not be curled under at the bottom. No styling aids permitted.

NOT ALL THERE…category for anyone who has facial hair but does not fit into the Papa Beard or Baby Beard categories (goatee, sideburns, chops, etc.).

BEARDARELLA…Allows the introduction of non-facial hair items into sculpted beard designs. Still requires natural growth. Bling up your beard with glitter, rhinestones, jewels or LED lights. As long as the incorporated items are within the structure of your facial hair anything goes!

CROWD FAVORITE…no special criteria for this one! The crowd will pick their favorite out of all the beards entered.

WHISKERINA (for the ladies)…this category is for the ladies. Show what the good lord neglected to give you and show us what it could have been! Pick a theme and design your beard! Be creative! Judges will look for craftsmanship, creativity and overall appearance.

Anyone wishing to enter any of the beard contest category can do so by sending a message to the Blossburg State Coal Festival Facebook page or an email to coalfestivalparade@gmail.com that includes a photo of you showing off your beard, your name, town of residence, the category that you are entering and complete contact information. This information can also be mailed via USPS to Blossburg Coal Festival, 245 Main St., Blossburg, PA 16912.

Contestants are permitted to enter multiple categories and all beards (with the exception of the Bearderella and Whiskerina categories) will be entered for Best Overall Beard.

The Blossburg Coal Festival Beard Contest is sponsored by Veterans Only Beard Supply Store and Coal Festival committee.

The Blossburg State Coal Festival has been held on Blossburg’s Island Park annually since 1992 and celebrates the area’s rich history in the coal mining industry. For more information on the history of the festival and for the latest schedule of events, please visit the festival’s website at www.coalfestival.com

BLOSSBURG, PA (February 6, 2018)… Ward Manufacturing will be honored during this year’s Blossburg State Coal Festival, held Wednesday, May 23 through Saturday, May 26 on Blossburg’s Island Park. This is the twenty-sixth festival and the twenty-sixth year that Ward Manufacturing has been a major supporter of the event.

“Without Ward Manufacturing and their generosity we would not have been able to celebrate Blossburg’s rich history in the coal industry for the last twenty-six years,” said Dave Thompson, Coal Festival Committee Vice President. “They have always been willing to support us with whatever we needed year after year in a variety of ways.”

Throughout the years Ward Manufacturing has given monetary support toward to the Coal Festival for different projects and have also generously supplied iron trivets for the first and twenty-fifth festivals, as well as other support when needed.

As in past years, Ward will sponsor Family Night which will be held on Thursday, May 24. Ward Manufacturing President and CEO, Pete Guidi will fill the role of grand marshal in the Coal Festival parade scheduled for Saturday, May 26.

The Blossburg State Coal Festival has been held on Blossburg’s Island Park annually since 1992 and celebrates the area’s rich history in the coal mining industry. For more information on the history of the festival and for the latest schedule of events, please visit the festival’s website at www.coalfestival.com

Join the Blossburg Coal Festival and Benedict’s Bus Service for a fun day visiting wineries on Seneca Lake.

This trip includes wine tastings at the following wineries:

*Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards (6 tastings)…Enjoy friendly staff, antique decor and the casual atmosphere of Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards on Seneca Lake, home of the Red Cat!

* Silver Springs Winery (6-7 tastings)…As an award-winning winery and wine maker, the owner invites you to taste his passion that burns like a fire across the expansive universe of your palat.

* Three Brothers (15 Wines+ 4 Beer +1 Root Beer)… Visit these three unique wineries and microbrewery all in one location…Stoney Lonesome, Passion Feet, Bagg Dare and War Horse. Passion, Pleasure and adventure await you at this stop. Everyone will review a souvenir wine class and a $4 coupon off a bottle of wine.

* Magnus Ridge Winery (wine and cheese tastings)…When you walk into Magnus Ridge, you are walking into old world France. With the exposed post and beams, large tasting bar and their customer wine glass chandelier, you will feel instantly relaxed. Browse the large selection of wine related gifts as you wander throughout the facility. Be sure to check out their custom glassware produced by Cazenovia College out of their recycled tasting bottles.

*Lakewood Vineyards…Located on beautiful Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Lakewood produces award-winning wines to suit all tastes.

This trip also includes a snack food tray provided on the on way to Geneva and free time in Watkins Glen for dinner on your own.

The bus will leave Wellsboro at 8:30 a.m. with pickups in Mansfield, Lawrenceville and Corning. Approximate return is 8:30 p.m. Price per seat is $95 with all proceeds benefiting the Blossburg Coal Festival.

For more information visit Benedict’s Bus Service website at http://www.benedictsbus.com/index.php/winery-tours/576-seneca-lake-wine-trail-3 or contact the Coal Festival at 570-404-0282.