Hosts of monthly Butler summer events announce upcoming season
Two events coincide in Butler on the third Friday of each month of the summer, and, according to their organizers, attendees may not even realize they are two different things.
Foodie Fridays is Butler Downtown’s monthly summer event, which consists mainly of food trucks convening in the parking lot at the intersection of Main and East Locust streets. The monthly Moon Market takes place the same days right down the street, mainly on the western side of Main Street, from Jefferson to Cunningham streets.
Both events recently announced their return to the city, with the dates being May 15, June 19, July 17 and Aug. 21.
Hannah Shannon, vendor coordinator for Foodie Fridays, said each month will once again have a different theme — May is Pets in the Parking Lot, June is a Y2K Block Party, July is Christmas in July and August is Back to School.
“As of right now, it varies from month to month. We have 20 confirmed vendors that are coming back,” Shannon said. “We have everything from dessert trucks that come and snacky appetizer foods, the actual barbecue smash food, pizza, then we have a couple drink ones, breweries that come, shaved ice, ice cream.”
Christina Voit, president of the Moon Markets, said the event’s offerings skew more toward craft vendors and artisan products. Crafters line the sidewalk during the event and people can peruse their products while also entering storefronts along the way for a monthly night of shopping.
The vendors who sell at the markets are selected by a committee that Voit is on, making the event kind of like Foodie Fridays, but with artists instead of food makers.
“We want hand artisans, small businesses, people that are creative and creating something beautiful,” Voit said of the vendors the markets get to sell. “We try to get an artist for every kind of facet.”
Moon Markets and Foodie Fridays will venture into one another’s territory a little bit this year, with Butler Downtown inviting some crafters to the lot each month for Foodie Fridays. Shannon said this is the first year Butler Downtown will bring crafters to its event.
Additionally, each event is put on for the entertainment of the community. Shannon said Butler Downtown collects vendor fees, but they simply help offset the cost of putting on the event.
“Everything that we get into this goes right back into the event,” Shannon said.
Voit noted the two events became linked together because it was easier to have two evening downtown events on the same day. But people should know the two are distinct from one another.
“It's easier than having the city police be paid twice. Originally, the city council and mayor said do it all on the same day,” Voit said.
Voit added that she is new to being the main planner of the Moon Markets, having taken over the role of president last year. With the rising popularity of Foodie Friday and the Moon Market, Voit said she expects crowds on Main Street to be bigger than ever this summer.
“We are hoping to grow it this year,” she said of the Moon Markets.
For updates on the Moon Markets, visit its Facebook page. For updates on Foodie Fridays, visit its Facebook page.
