July 10 to July 11
Steeples & Stacks Heritage Weekend
Steeples & Stacks Heritage WeekendMain St., North St., Locust St.
Butler, Pennsylvania 16001
Overview
Steeples & Stacks Heritage Weekend is an inaugural festival hosted by the Butler Cultural District and the Butler Rotary Club PM. Scheduled for July 10–11, 2026, the event is part of the broader America250 celebrations and is inspired by local panoramic photography capturing downtown Butler’s iconic skyline of faith architecture (steeples) and industrial history (smokestacks).
The event brings together artists, creators, and performers to honor the region's past, celebrate its present, and imagine its future across Main, North, and Locust Streets. Key highlights of the festival weekend include:
The Maridon Museum: Located right in the heart of the cultural district, the museum will play a central role in the weekend's festivities, offering visitors a chance to explore its spectacular, world-class collection of Asian art and regional culture.
Troutman's Art Mart: An outdoor artist market featuring regional artisans, craftsmen, and live creative demonstrations.
The Stacks Industry Expo: An interactive industry exposition hosted in the parking lot of the historic T.W. Phillips Building.
Steeples & Faith History Tours: Open houses and guided architectural and stained-glass tours showcasing downtown Butler's historic churches.
Glass and Clay Arts: Live glassblowing demonstrations, a public mosaic experience, and interactive "hands-on clay" art stations.
Entertainment & Media: Live musical performances on the Main Street T.W. Phillips Stage, storytelling sessions on local folklore with award-winning storyteller Alan Irvine, a self-guided Paul Laurence Dunbar poetry walk, and a special screening of the locally produced silent film Butler Magic at the Penn Theater accompanied by the Butler Symphony Players.
Heritage Dinner for 250: A marquee outdoor dining experience on North Street.
Youth Arts Alley: Dedicated areas for family-friendly crafting and heritage-themed activities for children.
Related Partner
The Rotary Club of Butler/PM has worked alongside community leaders, arts organizations, and venues to establish the creation of the Butler Cultural District to celebrate arts and cultural diversity in our region. The City of Butler is experiencing a vibrant revitalization as exciting projects are emerging. It is home to a number of Butler arts groups including the Butler Symphony and Butler Arts Center . Butler’s Main Street is home to budding new retail and restaurant establishments including breweries, coffee shops, lodging options and creative boutiques to complete your experience.
We have brought together artists and cultural organizations to highlight visual, performing, architectural, and literary arts celebrating Butler’s history and future by showing how our cultural groups collaborate to present unique experiences for residents and visitors. Our vision for Arts & Culture in Butler is enhanced with the support of our educational institutions, County and City government, local economic development organizations, the County Tourism office, and cultural and faith-based organizations, as well as through programs offered by the PA Council on the Arts.
The Butler Cultural District designated geographic area of town is rich in cultural assets and is the icing on the cake that will support and enhance our creative community, promote tourism, and most importantly celebrate various forms of arts and culture that appeal to all!