Event Kicks Off Season
The Butler Fall Festival will return for its 37th year Saturday, and event organizers are looking for warm weather to help the unofficial transition from summer to autumn.
The event, formerly known as Butler Ethnic Festival, will be on Main Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sheri Hershberger, Fall Festival committee president, said more than 100 vendors are signed up for the event, which also will feature different entertainers, including: Jay Vonada's Organ Trio East, North Washington's Rodeo Queen Madeline McEachin, Master Connell's ATA Taekwondo group and the Mahajibee Blues Band.
“We have a lot of good, new vendors coming in,” she said. “It's a good variety.”
There also will be a car show on the north side of Main Street organized by the festival committee and volunteers.
Hershberger said the event is a good opportunity for car owners to show their favorite vehicle as the warm weekends of summer are coming to an end.
“We're excited to see how that will go,” she said. “We're looking for people to show off whatever car they love.”The main thing festival organizers are looking for is sunny weather.Two years ago heavy rain storms canceled the event about an hour after it started. In response, the festival gave the vendors a free spot last year, greatly cutting into its financial resources.“We're on our way to recovery now,” Hershberger said.It takes about $20,000 in donations to organize the event each year. The costs include police coverage, utilities and using the downtown space, among other items.Hershberger said the committee still is seeking more sponsors.“Our sponsorship is down again this year,” she said. “That's an area we always want to improve.”The future of the festival was in question earlier this year due to a lack of volunteers, in addition to funding concerns.
However, organizers were able to recruit additional volunteers to help keep it going, partially through the help of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.Hershberger said the event is a great way for the city to welcome the changing of the seasons.“I think it's important because there are so few festivals left,” she said.Hershberger said the event typically draws 10,000 to 30,000 people.“It's important to draw people into town to see the businesses that we have,” she said. “It's also important for the businesses to participate and show their support for the festival.”The event will span Main Street from Penn to Diamond streets.
