The downtown fall festival Saturday is viewed by community leaders as a great opportunity to showcase the changes being made in Butler, and is good exposure for downtown businesses.

The Butler Fall Festival will mark its 37th year downtown on Saturday, running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street.

City Councilman Richard Schontz said the big festivals downtown often draw people who don’t typically come into the city.

“When we have a festival, people always come up to me and say it’s their first time downtown in a while and that they are surprised to see the economy has picked up,” he said. ”People don’t always realize what all we have downtown, so it makes for a pleasant surprise.”

Festival organizers say 10,000 to 30,000 people may come downtown for the event, depending upon the weather.

The city is in the process of trying to revitalize its downtown in a number of ways.

Since the fall festival in September 2014, the city has most notably gained a new Rite Aid pharmacy and a Dunkin’ Donuts.

The former Penn Theater also is having cosmetic work done, and a new brew pub opened Wednesday.

The West New Castle Street plaza also will remain open for Saturday’s event for the first time.

Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, said the festival creates a lot of additional foot traffic downtown.

“It gives businesses downtown exposure,” he said. “Even if they’re not open, since it is a Saturday, people who may not have known about them will notice them. We know that happens.”

Schontz said the large crowds are particularly favorable for restaurants and coffee shops.

“It’s one of the busiest days of the year downtown,” he said.

The city also hosts the Bantam Jeep Heritage Parade and the Butler Road Race, although it lost the Rodfathers Cruise-A-Palooza.

Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said the downtown events are important for Butler.

He agreed that the city’s businesses don’t necessarily need to open to benefit from the event.

“If the businesses are open, it’s a great opportunity to bring in new sales,” Cohen said. “Even if they’re not open, it’s a chance for people who may not have ever known it existed to see it.”

Cohen said the bureau assisted the festival’s committee this year in helping recruit new volunteers.

A lack of help almost canceled the event.

“We tried to help them with anything we can,” Cohen said. “Anything they need to get organized — we’re here to help.”

Schontz said he is thankful to the numerous volunteers who help make the downtown event possible, and to the city police and streets departments for their assistance in closing off Main Street.

“It takes a lot of planning,” he said.

Cohen said it is important for the festival to continue because it helps provide a glimpse into the atmosphere of the city.

“These festivals are what make our communities great,” Cohen said. “They represent the fabric of what we live in.”

While the festival is good for business, Kosciuszko said the festivals are also good for the participants.

“The festival serves a multitude of positive purposes,” Kosciuszko said. “It also brings a lot of nonprofits and vendors together to get exposure. And it’s my understanding they have quite a few vendors this year.”

The Butler Fall Festival is just one of many festivals occurring in late summer. Cohen said the number of weekend festivals is good for the county’s tourism.

“It’s a great time of the year,” he said, referencing other festivals in Zelienople, Slippery Rock and Harmony. “Every weekend there is a different festival. The weather is decent and people like to get out.”