Christmas coming early to downtown Butler
The nonprofit group Butler Downtown needs more snowflake lights to illuminate each of the street poles in downtown Butler this winter, because of the installation of new light poles.
The organization is bringing Christmas to July this weekend to raise money to buy new lights and refurbish the current ones displayed in the winter. Diamond Park and the old Worsely's lot will have vendors and activities Saturday, along with some Christmas fun, including an appearance by Santa Claus and, later, an outdoor movie showing that night.
Krista Washkau, secretary of Butler Downtown, said the organization is aiming to raise a little more than $18,000 for the purchase of 32 new lights, along with one year's maintenance. She said the city installed new light poles in 2019 and there were not enough snowflake lights to cover them all.
Their presence was missed by the community, however.
The organization will run a fundraising drive through the website Square through the rest of the year, Washkau said, but she said she has been “breathing Christmas in July” for the past few weeks.
“It has just breathed a little life into everybody,” Washkau said. “We hope this gets people excited for Christmas and downtown.”
Christmas in July takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 201 South Main St., with the movie screening taking place at 9 p.m. in the Worsely's lot. There is no admission cost to attend. For more information on the event, visit Butler Downtown's website, www.butlerdowntown.org.
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