Butler Fall Festival takes over Main Street, attracts thousands

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Greg Kerr performed at Diamond Park. 

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Beth George showed off her fall themed crafts at her booth, Beth's Baskets and Beyond.

Frost Ridge Maple Farm was offering plenty of aged syrup samples.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Mark Grossi was painting a landscape oil painting in his vendor booth. Bob Ross is his inspiration.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Good Old Ernie played at the festival. 

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Good Old Ernie played at the festival. 

Good Old Ernie played at the festival. 

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Helen Musko is a member of the St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church and has been helping serve polish food at the festival for many years.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

Over a mile of Main Street in Butler was shut down on Saturday to make way for the Butler Fall Festival’s food, vendors, kid zone, live music and car show.

PHOTOS: Butler Fall Festival fills street with families, food and fun
The festival has been a part of the community for 40 years, attracting about 20,000 people each year. This year the vendors were moved into the center of the street to make the businesses along Main Street more accessible.

New festival organizers have added live music, a petting zoo and more diverse, local vendors.

"Before there were more informative vendors," said Bridget Gold of the Butler Fall Festival committee. "We really strived to bring back arts and craft vendors to let people see what others do in their community."

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But what hasn't changed are the food choices from different cultures. Homemade Polish cuisine from St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church has been a staple of the festival since its inception. Church members were busy serving hot food on a chilly day, and the pierogies were gone by 2 p.m.

"The festival is just one of those things our community enjoys and has come to expect," Gold said.