The Butler Cultural District is launching this weekend with hopes of looking to the past and forging ahead to a colorful future.

The “Visions of CommUnity” event will feature an afternoon of exhibits, walks, performances and tours in Butler’s downtown.

Leslie Osche, project chairwoman for the cultural district and secretary of the Rotary Club of Butler PM, said she hopes people who attend will get a glimpse of different sides of the community.

“We’re trying to generate excitement for the district,” she said. “The goal is to have people walking into the churches, seeing the exhibits and performances, seeing the stained glass.”

The Rotary Club of Butler PM started brainstorming about an arts and cultural district last year. Club leaders proposed it as a geographic block of North Washington, West Jefferson, North McKean, Charles and North Main streets to be the site of events and aesthetic updates for the arts.

A schedule of activities for Saturday has been released, featuring Butler Symphony performers and an art exhibit in the Maridon Museum, a poetry walk at Butler Area Public Library, art tables in Cedar Street Alley, and performances by local artists in Butler Middle School Courtyard.

According to Osche, the focus of the launch will be on entities on East Main Street from Jefferson to Howard streets and the North McKean Street corridor.

“It’s to get people moving and strolling about in that area, enjoying that part of town,” she said. “We have to highlight the cultural assets of the city in a cohesive kind of way. I’m excited to see the cultural groups come together ... (The launch is) an intro of what’s to come.”

For tickets and a full list of attractions connected to the cultural district launch, visit butlerculturaldistrict.org. Light refreshments will be served at various locations in the district.