SISTERSVILLE — The 20th annual Sistersville Marble Festival will be held Friday through Sunday in downtown Sistersville.

Marble displays, food vendors, handmade marble making demonstrations by glass artists, a children’s marble tournament, a silent marble auction and a flea market will be available.

“There are many excellent marble shows held throughout the United States,” Jim King, founder and coordinator, said. “Most are done in motels with room-to-room trading. I wanted something that was more festive and for the whole family, so that everyone could enjoy it.”

King with a group of individuals launched the Sistersville Marble Festival in 2000.

The festival, for which admission and vendor setup is free, thrives by giving collectors a venue to buy, sell and trade marbles.

In addition to providing free entertainment, the festival also is a celebration of the area’s marble history.

More than 20 marble factories once operated within a 60-mile radius of Sistersville. When playing marbles hit its worldwide peak, a majority of the toy marbles children used were produced in this area.

Today, Sistersville is located between two of the remaining American-based toy marble manufacturers: Marble King in Paden City and Jabo Vitro Marble Factory in Newport.

For more information or to be added to the Sistersville Marble Festival mailing list, call King at 304-652-3032, 304-652-4030 or 304-652-3155.