team Joe Wendryhoski, athlete, former NFL lineman for the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints Events, media, and recognition Each year West Frankfort hosts the Old King Coal Festival. This four-day event is held every May. Now coinciding with Rend Lake Festival, held in nearby Benton. Formerly the Old King Coal Festival was held in the third week of September; to pay tribute to coal miners with a parade, concerts, pageants, carnival rides and a wide variety of food. West Frankfort is also home to Candy Cane Lane, a large lights display featured every year around Christmas. The display involves several blocks of homes, including a large display by a local art teacher. In 2019, areas of Candy Cane Lane were featured on the ABC show The Great Christmas Light Fight. West Frankfort is home to the Frankfort Area Historical Museum, which operates in a renovated 3 story Logan Grade School. The Society features a large research library, and maintains a microfilm of U.S. Census and local newspapers. West Frankfort was formerly home to the Daily American Newspaper, which operated for nearly 100 years. The newspaper was replaced by the West Frankfort Gazette, and replaced again by the Franklin County Gazette as of 2020. Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN), a Christian broadcasting network, operates their world headquarters outside of town. WITM-FM on 88.7 will be 3ABN Radio Music Channel's first affiliate to play Christian music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. West Frankfort was formerly the home of at least two radio stations, and local media source WFCN News operates outside of town. References External links West Frankfort Daily American newspaper Cities in Franklin County, Illinois Cities in Illinois Populated places in Southern Illinois Populated places established in 1811 Coal mining disasters in Illinois 1811 establishments in Illinois Territory 1951 mining disasters 1951 in Illinois 1951 disasters in the United States December 1951 events in the United States 1947 mining disasters 1929 mining disasters