In 1953, many coal miners in the Southwest Pennsylvania region lost their jobs due to mechanization and coal mines beginning to close. Four Carmichaels residents (Paul Smith, Ross Allison, Stanley Allison, and Ellis "Parker" Burnette) and several local organizations decided to create a festival to bring attention to the "hub of the soft coal region" and celebrate the hard work and labor hours miners dedicated to create the coal mining town. The created the King Coal Association in 1954 to foster the development and advancement of the bituminous coal industry. Through this newly established organization, the First Annual Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Festival was held on October 13-16, 1954. Originally, the festival simply included a parade, coal mining demonstrations and dedications, and the Coal Queen pageant. 65 years later, the King Coal Show has now blossomed into a week-long celebration of tradition and family. While several more components have been added to the Coal Show's entertainment and exhibit schedule, the history and legacy of the miners that helped create this town and this country have lived on through this festival and the dedicated volunteers and patrons that make it possible.