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Coal City Old Grouch Festival Photo Gallery

Staff Reports

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Staff Reports

September 21, 2026

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Community Events
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7 min read
Coal City Old Grouch Festival Photo Gallery
Local resident Dustin Clark poses with an actor Danny Russel, portraying President Abraham Lincoln. STAFF PHOTO | THE OWEN NEWS
Akaiyah Rogers was crowned 2026’s Little Miss Coal City Festival. Here she poses with The Statue Guy, a feature of this year’s festival. STAFF PHOTO | THE OWEN NEWS
Siblings Waylon and Oakley Conley each won the cake walk and proudly display their prizes. STAFF PHOTO | THE OWEN NEWS
Siblings Waylon and Oakley Conley each won the cake walk and proudly display their prizes. STAFF PHOTO | THE OWEN NEWS
Queen City circus provided three performances during the festival. A highlight included inviting members of the audience to participate. Kinsley Cheeseman learns to juggle with one of the performers. STAFF PHOTO | THE OWEN NEWS
In 1975, the first Old Grouch sign appeared in Coal City. It read, ‘Coal City, Population 162 and 1 Old Grouch’. The subsequent sign that stood for years showed happy faces, with one red face (the Old Grouch). The image above reflects the newly upgraded sign posted on the edge of town. STAFF PHOTO | THE OWEN NEWS
Antique display at the Coal City Old Grouch Festival. STAFF PHOTO | THE OWEN NEWS
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