The De’ja’vu Band will highlight Saturday’s entertainment at the City Park on Saturday night, 5-7 p.m.

The 45th annual West Virginia Oil and Gas Festival, a celebration to honor the oil and gas industry, will take place at the Sistersville City Park on Sept. 12-14, this year offering free admission to the grounds for the first time ever.

The festival will officially open on Thursday at 10 a.m. with the old Gas Engine Show being the featured activity of the day at the City Park. Designated as Senior Citizens Day, entertainment will feature the Mountain State Bluegrass Express at 1 p.m. The flag raising ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. and fair goers will be entertained by local talent as the annual talent show will light up the stage at the City Park at 7:30 p.m.

The Mountain State Bluegrass Express is an all-time favorite of festival goers, bringing classic bluegrass music alive from whatever stage they perform on. Led by Tyler County’s own Al Spencer, members of the band also include Ed Hildebrand, Art Trippett, and Ron Morehouse. The Mountain State Bluegrass Express is entertaining and always has new surprises that will entertain grandparents, grandchildren, and everybody in-between.

On Friday, the Gas Engine Show auction will be held as well as the Gib Morgan Wrench Throwing Contest along with a show on the stage from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. performed by the Starliters.

The Starliters, an exciting show band that will take their audience on an adventurous journey through the Fabulous 50’s and 60’s, then hustle into the disco era of the 70’s. But they don’t stop there, Starliters will take their listeners straight into the 80’s and 90’s with a stop by the most current top forty music.

2013 WV Oil and Gas Festival Queen Casey Lassiter will reign over the Festival this year.

The Starliters is a nine member group featuring music for all ages featuring high energy and fun-filled entertainment.

Members of the group include: Casey Powell, Amanda Stevens, Dan Cox, Rodger Unger, John Fenton and Harold Stockwell.

Every year, Saturday proves to be the busiest day at the Oil and Gas and this year is no different. An antique, rod, and custom show will begin at 9 a.m. at the park; the AACA Fall meeting is scheduled; the West Virginia Oil and Gas Man of the Year Luncheon will be held at 10:45 a.m. honoring this years Man of the Year, Rich Heffelfinger.

The Grand WV Oil and Gas Trophy Parade will dazzle those along the streets of Sistersville beginning at 1 p.m.; and the ever popular Oil and Gas Band-A-Rama will take place at Tyler Consolidated High School immediately following the parade.

The parade and Band-A-Rama will feature the following high school bands: Tyler Consolidated, Williamstown, Paden City, St. Marys, Wirt County, Doddridge County, Valley, Liberty Harrison, Magnolia, George Washington and Parkersburg South.

The Tyler Consolidated High School Band will host the annual Band-A-Rama on Saturday immediately following the parade.

Joining these bands at the Band-A-Rama (but not marching in the parade) will also be Ritchie County, Gilmer County and Roane County High School marching bands.

For those wanting to tap their toes along to the sounds of yesterday, the De ja ‘vu Band will hit the stage with classic sounds of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s on Saturday from 5 – 7 p.m. With over two centuries of combined musical experience, De ‘ja ‘vu features tight vocal harmonies and solid instrumentation, catering to a more mature and sophisticated listening audience. Comprised of veteran musicians and singers who have performed with some of the most popular oldies acts, the De ‘ja ‘vu Band performs the classic sounds of the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s, featuring rock solid instrumentation and four part vocal harmonies.

The band emulates the sound and style of several popular original artists and the result is a super satisfying trip down memory lane.

Members of the group include Buddy Filben, Duke Provenzano, Melodie Provenzano, Michael Sponaugle and Bill Sinclair.

Children’s games and activities as well as a corn hole tournament at 5:30 p.m. with other activities and entertainment will take place at the city park for the remainder of the day on Saturday.

All three days of the festival will feature the Oil and Gas Expo exhibits; craft sales and demonstrations; a country store; educational exhibits; oil giveaways; food booths; game booths; window displays in the business area of town; Greg Holden’s rock climbing wall; inflatables/water games; and Rainbow the Clown who will be doing face painting, sand art, and balloon animals.

Historical walking tours of Sistersville will be available throughout the festival including the working and operating “Little Sister Well”.

An art show will be held throughout the weekend at the Gaslight Theater in downtown Sistersville.

Casey Lassiter, newly selected 2013 West Virginia Oil and Gas Festival Queen, will reign over the festivities at the City Park as well as the parade on Saturday.

Organizers of the festival invite one and all to come to Sistersville Sept. 12, 13, and 14 to take part in honoring the oil and gas industry and to take in historic Sistersville. Admission to the grounds is free.

Camping space is available the week of the festival. For more information call 304-652-2939.