If you’re in Sistersville the weekend of March 17th and 18th and hear hilarious laughter rising from the Elks, donát be alarmed. It simply means after a two-year absence the 24th Annual Sisters Fest is back in town!

This year’s theme is PAJAMA PARTY. Well known as a fan favorite in historic Sistersville, the festival celebrates women. While the weekend highlights sisters, like the Wells sisters who established Sistersville, the event is for all women-sisters and “sisterfriends” as they are often called at Sisters Fest. So, if you donát have a sister, bring your friend, mother or come alone; you will leave with more “sisters” than you could ever imagine!

With numerous planned events for the weekend, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in as many or few as they choose. Most events will be held upstairs in the ballroom at the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge 333 on Charles St. in Sistersville. The Elks Lodge has once again extended an invitation for all attendees to frequent their bar area on Friday and Saturday night. There will be a DJ in lounge on Friday night and a live band in the lounge on Saturday night. Both events promise to pack the house.

The fun begins on Friday night, March 17th at 7:00 p.m. with an Appetizer and Dessert Contest. Participating sisters are asked to bring an appetizer or dessert to share in the contest. Each food entered gets the cook automatically signed up to participate in a drawing for a $25 prize. Attendees will taste and vote for their favorites. Categories include Best Dessert, Best Appetizer, or Best Theme (a dessert or appetizer that best represents this year’s theme, PAJAMA PARTY.)

Following at 8:00 p.m. is the Variety Show. This fun-loving event can be filled with silly skits, poetry, or serious songs. The point here is anything goes and for all to have fun and be entertained. There is no judging of entries.

Saturday begins a full day of activities starting with the favorite “How Well Do You Know Your Sister” at 9:30 a.m. At the Elks Ballroom. In this laughter-filled event the women pair off to answer questions about their sisters or “sisterfriends” in a style very similar to The Newlywed Game. Also on Saturday morning March 18 the Sistersville VFW Auxiliary will be serving breakfast at the VFW located at 504 Diamond St. Sistersville from 8AM until 11AM. The cost is $10.00 and is open to the public.

Right after the game show a Scavenger Hunt will be held. Stop by registration to get your instructions on how to play.

A Paint ‘n Sip will be held at the Golden Derrick Gallery (yellow doors beside the theater) in downtown Sistersville from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sisters are reminded they must provide their own beverage to sip. Cost for this fun event is $25 and preregistration is required.

At 2:00 p.m. Bingo will be held in the Elks ballroom. Bring a gift for prizes instead of a fee. Following Bingo all attendees will be asked to exit the ballroom so preparation for the banquet can begin.

At 5:00 p.m. there will be a parade starting on the steps of the Elks and continuing down Charles Street to Wells Street. Final stop will be the Post Office for the traditional group picture on the steps (weather permitting).

Finally, at 6:00 p.m. the banquet will begin. Cost for the banquet ticket is $16 each. Pre-registration is required. The banquet will be catered by the Elks. There will be a silent auction. Please bring a small gift and receive a free ticket for a chance in the auction. There will also be a motivational speaker presentation during the banquet.

Registration is required for all events. Registration is $14 per person, and if paid by March 1st, you will be entered into a drawing for a $50 cash prize. The best place to stay up to date on both information and registration is on Facebook at Sister Fest. Please send your forms and fees prior to the event for planning reasons. There is on-line registration and payment trough PayPal. Registration will be accepted at the door, however, keep in mind events may be filled up before then.

If mailing your registration fee please send to Sisters Fest, PO Box 132, Sistersville WV 26175. NO confirmation will be sent back. Packets will be available for pickup beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday March 17th at the Elks. Update on is on Facebook at Sister’s Fest.