The city of Butler attracts big crowds for most of its downtown events throughout the year. It should be able to do likewise on New Year’s Eve, even given the uncertainty of the weather.

Unfortunately, the city’s celebration doesn’t attract the interest and attendance that it should. But a couple of changes perhaps would bring the kind of enthusiasm and excitement — and attendance — that such an event should generate.

With that in mind, those in charge of the Dec. 31 activities should do what many no doubt might now regard as unthinkable — do away with the “Ring in the Arts” moniker, replacing it with something sounding more celebratory and family oriented.

Some Butler area residents might say that “Ring in the Arts” sounds too stuffy — or that it isn’t clear that the event appeals to more than the “artsy” segment of the community.

Even if the event does offer something for everyone, in Butler’s case, perception seems to be working against the city’s New Year’s attendance.

“Ring in the Arts” organizers might be reluctant to make a name change since the next New Year’s Eve will mark the event’s 10th anniversary. But a good point for debate is whether the event should endure another year of sub-par attendance due to sentimentality over a name.

With a celebration on tap, the city should be teeming with people on New Year’s Eve, rather than raising the question, for people passing through the city, whether there really is a community celebration under way.

Then there’s the issue of activities. Harmony’s annual Silvester celebration, coinciding with the start of the new year in Germany — the local celebration commemorates the town’s German heritage — kicks off with a popular 5K run/walk three hours before a lighted ball drops to mark the start of the new year in Germany, which comes six hours earlier than midnight in the United States’ Eastern Time Zone.

Meanwhile, in Mars, New Year’s celebrants are treated to free food, free raffles of gift certificates and merchandise, and the lighting of the Mars spaceship at midnight.

“It’s small-town U.S.A.,” said Mars’ new mayor, Terry Onufer. “It’s awesome.”

About Harmony’s event, John Ruch, Historic Harmony president, said, “People love this because it’s so different. It ends early so families can get home and get off the roads. But it’s also good for other people who leave here and then do their normal New Year’s Eve events.”

Some of those people might want to attend Butler’s celebration if they saw it as offering enough for them to make the trip.

Butler’s celebration needs a bigger variety of events for children, regardless of weather conditions. Could competition such as sled races help boost overall New Year’s Eve attendance?

Selecting a new name for the celebration would be a good start, but more intensive planning and brainstorming of ideas throughout the year, along with compiling a healthy group of sponsors, could produce a more interesting, better-attended event.

The latest New Year’s Eve reinforced the fact that Butler’s celebration is not what it could be — or should be. Attendance should equal what many of the parades throughout the year produce.

Butler’s New Year’s celebration can be better. And now is the time to start working to make positive changes to make it so.