Press Release: Coal Creek Miner's Festival - May 19-21 Posted: February 28, 2005 Press Release: Contact: Donna Norris, Lake City Chamber of Commerce 426-9595 or Stephanie Wells, Anderson County Tourism Council 457-4547 The Lake City Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lake City will be sponsoring the Coal Creek Miners Festival from May 19-21, 2005 on Main Street in Lake City. "Last year, Lake City held their first festival in May, Mayfest, and was excited about how successful it was," said Buck Wilson, Mayor of Lake City. "This year we would like to expand on the festival and celebrate the fascinating coal mining history of Coal Creek, now known as Lake City." The change in the name of the festival and the emphasis on Coal Creek mining history is a direct correlation to the successful events conducted by the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation focusing on the Coal Creek War, the Fraterville Mine Disaster and the Cross Mountain Mine Disaster and the recent nomination and acceptance of the Fraterville Miner's Circle in Leach Cemetery to the National Register of Historic places. "The Coal Creek Watershed Foundation has had phenomenal success in promoting the history of Coal Creek including the Anniversary Tours of the Fraterville Mine Disaster," said Wilson. "I have no doubt that people, local and regional, are interested in the mining history of Coal Creek, which is why we want to celebrate that history." The Lake City Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lake city have been in the process of preliminary planning the festival and are now asking for the participation from community members to plan the Coal Creek Miner's Festival. "Time is of the essence and we need all the help that we can get," said Donna Norris, Lake City Chamber of Commerce Director. "It is vital to the success of this festival that we have community participation." If you are interested in helping to plan the festival, please attend the planning meeting on March 14, 2005 at 6 p.m. at the Lake City Municipal Building on Main Street in Lake City. If you are unable to attend and would like to help, please contact Donna Norris at the Lake City Chamber of Commerce at 865-426-9595.