The 19th annual Sistersville Marble Festival will be held Sept. 28-30.

The three-day event draws national and international attention and includes exhibits, food, vendors and entertainment.

The festival is a commemoration of the marble industry history in the area.

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

Sistersville is located between two of the remaining American-based toy marble manufacturers: Marble King, 4 miles north of Sistersville in Paden City; and JABO Vitro Marble Factory, 25 miles south of Sistersville in Newport.

The festival includes handmade marble-making demonstrations by world-renowned glass artists, a children’s marble tournament, a silent auction for marbles, numerous beautiful marbles and flea market items.

Source: www.newsandsentinel.com