SISTERSVILLE, W.VA.-When a visitor at the 12th annual West
Virginia Oil & Gas Festival’s Old Gas Engine Show was asked
what he thought of the show, he said only one word,
‘Terrific.’ That was also the feelings of the host of this
show. Following are the reasons why ‘Terrific’ seemed most
fitting.
The festival is a four day event held in early September, packed
with different family events. The ‘Old Gas Engine Show’,
which is sponsored by the Quaker State Oil Refining Company and
hosted by the festival, is held the last two days, but engine
owners are invited to come and set up all four days. In the past
maybe a dozen engine owners would show up when the festival opened
on Thursday. This year when the festival opened the engine area was
already half full and by Saturday, the day the ‘Old Gas Engine
Show’ opened, the show chairmen were having a hard time finding
room for the record number of engines.
Over 160 engine owners, some with steam engines, from seven
states took part. States taking part this year were Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, and West Virginia,
These engine owners brought with them 283 engines of all sizes.
This was the largest number of engines ever displayed during the
festival; many came hundreds of miles to take part. A few years ago
only 26 engine owners took part. The festival feels that the
‘Old Gas Engine Show’ has come of age. It offers a good
time for everyone, both for the festival visitors and the engine
owners.
The show and festival take place in Sistersville at the City
Park, where events such as the Antique Auto Show, West Virginia
Wristwrestling Championships, banjo and fiddle contest, oil and gas
exhibits, craft sales, food booths, oil give-a-ways, oil and gas
industrial show, flea market, country store, commercial booths,
square dance, special camp fire sing and daily entertainment are
held. There are also many other events taking place at the City
Park and in other parts of Sistersville such as the Grand Oil &
Gas Trophy Parade, art exhibit, craft exhibit, photo exhibit,
silent auction, stamp and coin show, and the oil and gas band-a
rama just to name a few.
The main thing is that there is always something for all ages to
see and do. The festival committee invites you to be part of the
13th annual West Virginia Oil & Gas Festival and the Old Gas
Engine Show, September 10-11-12-13 in Sistersville. For more
information write to the festival at P.O. Box 25, Sistersville,
West Virginia 26175.
