Several of the organizers of Sisters Fest get in the spirit of “Peace, Love, and Sisters” for the annual event to be held in Sistersville March 13 and 14.

Sisters Fest will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year on March 13 and 14.

To mark the occasion the event for sisters or just close friends is excited to make some small changes that will keep the event lively-as if the women needed any help in that department.

Attendees will be celebrating in hippie style with a theme of “Peace, Love, and Sisters”. “We are expecting lots of funky get-ups as the ladies arrive Friday and continue to play up the theme throughout the weekend,” said Amy Witschey, one of the organizers. “The ladies just seem to love dressing up in accordance with the various themes, although it certainly isn’t required. We’ve had a theme to the weekend for years, but for the last few events attendees really get into the spirit of the chosen motif.”

Like the past two years, Sisters Fest will be headquartered in the ballroom of the Elks Club, located on W.Va. 2 across from the Wells Inn.

It is handicap accessible.

Registration will begin Friday at 5 p.m. and they are strongly encouraging pre-registration. In fact, those with paid registrations by March 1 will be entered into a drawing to win a video camera.

At 6 p.m. an appetizer contest will begin. Sisters can sample the culinary delights of fellow attendees and vote on their favorites. At the banquet prizes will be given to the top two people’s choice and judge’s choice winners. Also, participants are encouraged to bring the recipes and they will be put on www.sistersfest.com after the weekend.

The appetizer contest is just the opener for the every popular, if silly, variety show. Sister groups get up their nerve to take the stage at the Elks and sing a song, do a skit, etc. Some are serious, but most are comical. There is no judging or prizes, just fun and entertainment.

Saturday’s events begin at 8 a.m. with breakfast in the Elks ballroom served by the Sistersville Volunteer Fire Department. Then at 9:30 a.m. the annual time for a game show will begin. “Making a slight change to keep the event fresh, this year’s game will be called ‘Sister Squabble!’ and patterned after Family Feud. It’s sure to be a blast,” said Witschey. “Plus, since the breakfast and game are in the same room, sisters can eat their breakfast and watch the show at the same time, just like watching television in their own home.”

At noon all attendees are encouraged to be in the Elks ballroom for the annual group photo.

At 12:30 p.m. there will be a luncheon held in the Durham Mansion, graciously opened to attendees by owners Dan and Linda Marrin. There will not be a hat contest, as there has at the tea in years past. However, attendees are encouraged to bring old eyeglasses for donation to the Lions Club Women who will be serving the luncheon.

An exciting addition to Sisters Fest this year is a tour of beautiful homes in Victorian Sistersville Saturday afternoon. A complete list of locations will be announced later, but preliminary arrangement guarantee the tour will not disappoint attendees.

The final event of Sisters Fest is the annual banquet at 6 p.m. The Elks will cater with a menu that includes stuffed chicken breast and twice baked potatoes. The banquet will conclude with recognition of contest winners and door prize drawings. All winner must be

present, with the exception of the video camera drawing for pre-registrants.

The cost to attend Sisters Fest is done on an a la carte basis with all attendees required to pay a $7 registration fee. After that the fee is based on what events sisters want to attend. The appetizer contest, variety show, and game show are included in the registration, but additional charges are levied for breakfast, $5; luncheon, $7; home tour, $3; and banquet, $14. “Where else can you have a weekend of fun with your sister and/or friends for only $36.00, which includes three meals, four if you count the appetizers for dinner on Friday night?” asks Betsy Westfall, an event organizer.

Registrations may be mailed to Sisters Fest, P.O. Box 132, Sistersville, WV 26175.

For more information about Sisters Fest visit www.sistersfest.com or www.myspace.com/sistersfest; e-mail sistersfest@hotmail.com, or call Betsy Westfall at 304-771-8699.