Tonight, Butler will kick off a new era in the way it celebrates New Year's. "Ring in the Arts," in the planning stage for most of the past year, seems destined to be a memorable event - and hopefully a steppingstone to future downtown New Year's festivities.

Anyone who has lamented that "there's nothing to do in downtown Butler" will be accorded a much-different perspective tonight as Main Street becomes the mecca for thousands of people who will be attending live musical, dance and literary performances, welcoming 2005 with hats and noisemakers, and then watching an after-midnight fireworks display.

"Ring in the Arts" will be a family event, with children getting the added bonus - and parents also - of watching a magician's show. Meanwhile, children will be able to make their own New Year's hats at the Associated Artists of Butler County Art Center.

People who have been caught up in Christmas holiday preparations and festivities and who haven't gotten around to buying a $10 individual - or $25 family - "passport" to the evening's events needn't feel left out. The buttons that will serve as a ticket to the various entertainment opportunities will be available for sale this evening at the Penn Theater as "Ring in the Arts" is in high gear.

The various individual events of the evening have been scheduled in a way that people attending "Ring in the Arts" will be able to participate in a variety of the activities that are on the agenda.

Streets will remain open so people, if they choose, can drive from one performance or activity to the next, although the walking distance between most of the happenings won't prove to be a difficult trek for most individuals.

Downtown restaurants will be open, and people stopping at the Morgan Building will have the opportunity to reveal their 2005 resolutions.

Anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to attend a New Year's Eve celebration such as the "First Night" events held in many cities, might not realize how much fun such an evening can be. And, Butler's celebration will have its own uniqueness that attendees will appreciate.

A memorable, fun evening - an opportunity to "introduce" the arts aspect of Butler to residents and outside visitors alike - is what "Ring in the Arts" will be all about. Maggie Stock, who is coordinating this fund-raising event for the Butler Arts Council, which plans to create a cultural village in several historic buildings on North Main Street, deserves praise for her time and effort over the past year in organizing the event. Similar praise is merited for the other dozen-plus members of her planning committee.

"Ring in the Arts" will be a "Don't Miss It" kind of event for people living here, as well as for visitors from outside the area.

- J.R.K.