The Associated Artists of Butler County are in the process of getting approval for a huge mural on the side of the former Penn Theater on Main Street. Pictured is a rendition of the mural planned for the building, which will include film rolling along and scenes from famous movies. The Associated Artists will paint murals on seven downtown buildings during this weekend's Street Art Festival.

The organizers of Butler's Street Art Festival are inviting virus-weary residents to come downtown this weekend and have some fun.

Stephen Haley, gallery director at the Butler Art Center, said in addition to 15 artists painting unique murals at seven different Main Street businesses, there will also be music, snacks and demonstrations at the Art Center on South Main Street and in Diamond Park.

The festival will kick off at 5 p.m. Friday at the Art Center, then continue beginning at noon Saturday and Sunday, Haley said.

Teams of artists will finish a mural of a kraken at Butler Brew Works and a saxophone player on the Butler Beauty School building as well as paint nostalgic candies at George's Unique Gifts and Candy, teeth with floss and a mouth entrance at Butler Dental Associates, a floral mural at Smith's Flowers, and mountain climbers on the pipes at the former Natili's Restaurant.

The teams will also finish the mural of a mountain scene and paint two poems by contest winner Jessica Comer on the side of the Holly Pointe Building on Main Street and add to the mural on the Sir Speedy building of a family of mice.

A pole at the ANR building downtown also will be adorned with a painting of a compass, Haley said.

Those attending the festival are welcome to watch the artists as they complete the murals Saturday and Sunday or as they sketch the designs on the locations on Friday night.

Performances will be ongoing at the Art Center on Saturday, including a wood turning demonstration at noon and a performance by the Butler Hip Hop and Rap Community at 1 p.m. in the art center basement.

Artists can also be viewed inside the art center as they paint the flowing words of six winners of the recent Associated Artists poetry contest.

Haley said a schedule of events will be available all three days at the Art Center.

He hopes those attending the festival will patronize the downtown restaurants and businesses as they stroll from one mural site to another during the socially distanced event.

“We are trying to spread it out as much as possible,” Haley said. “We just want to be safe and not upset anybody or cause them to worry.”

Mayor Ben Smith is excited about the prospect of people coming downtown this weekend to enjoy all the festival has to offer while following coronavirus protocol.

“Of course we want people to be safe and comfortable while they have a good time,” Smith said. “The city has never prevented people from holding activities; we just said everyone has to follow the governor's orders.”

Like Haley, he hopes those in attendance will pop in and out the many and varied downtown businesses as they move between mural locations, the art center and Diamond Park.

“It's great to shop online and have things delivered, but nothing beats patronizing a local business in person,” Smith said.

He praised Haley and the Associated Artists for planning and carrying out an event that will be fun and safe at the same time.

“They are a really great organization,” Smith said. “They are one of Butler's hidden gems.”