Gunnar Foreback wrangles with a pipe brush while his grandmother Christine Myers looks Saturday at the Butler Art Center during the annual Butler Bunny Trail. The Main Street event, organized by Butler Downtown, attracted about 50 families.

Dozens of families dropped by the Butler Art Center Saturday before hopping between local businesses giving away free candy celebrating the upcoming Easter holiday.

Organized by Butler Downtown, the Butler Bunny Trail attracted about 50 families to the event on Main Street.

“They love all this stuff,” said Cheliana O'Brien of Butler, who attended with her family. “It's basically a trick or treat for Easter. It's easier for the kids to do this instead of an egg hunt.”

Lance Calvert, owner of Brushes & Barstools on Main Street, volunteers with the local nonprofit that aims to revitalize and promote downtown. The group has organized the annual event for the last eight years.

Calvert said the Bunny Trail encourages families to walk up and down Main Street and visit participating businesses along the way for treats and activities. The hop extended several blocks along both sides of Main Street.

The event started at the Butler Symphony and ended across the street at the Butler Art Center, where youths participated in a craft activity and were met by firefighters from the Butler City Bureau of Fire. Inside the art center, children twisted and tied pipe brushes into little figures with colored tape used as clothing.

“We always like to do something for the kids that's different from just looking at screens and pressing buttons on controllers,” said Steven Haley, gallery director. “A little pipe cleaner goes a long way. They get really jazzed over it.”

Outside the art center, O'Brien and her husband, Kevin, stopped to visit with the firefighters and take pictures of their two children in front of a fire truck.

Calvert pointed out that Butler Downtown is always looking for volunteers to help organize events like the Bunny Trail. He encouraged people interested in helping redevelop the city to join the group.

“We like to do this every year just to support the businesses in the downtown and give something back to the community,” Calvert said. “It also lets parents see what's new. We get a lot of people from around the county coming down here.”