Organizers of the Butler Fall Festival say the annual downtown event is in danger of being canceled this year without the immediate help of additional volunteers.

Sheri Hershberger, president of the festival committee, said the loss of support from the Rodfathers of Butler Car Club has left the committee with only a handful of volunteers to organize what would be the 37th annual Fall Festival scheduled for Sept. 19.

“The festival is in jeopardy,” Hershberger said. “Due to everything that has happened downtown, the Rodfathers have pulled out of the festival.”

The car club last year announced it was moving its annual Cruise-A-Palooza, scheduled for June, to the Butler Farm Show Grounds in Butler Township.

The move followed a request from the city to increase reimbursement fees for police and maintenance costs associated with downtown festivals.

City council last year discussed increasing those fees from 25 percent to 50 percent, but eventually told festival organizers it would not increase the cost for this year.

Hershberger said the Rodfathers in the past also had a car cruise at the Fall Festival and helped with the organization of the event.

She said a group with experience hosting car shows is vital to replace the Rodfathers. Hershberger said the festival has included a car show that stretched from North Street to Penn Street.

“That’s a pretty large piece of the festival,” she said.

Volunteers also are needed to fill the roles of vice president as well as chairs to oversee sponsorships, public relations, food vendors, and technology.

“They’re pretty significant positions for us to keep this running,” Hershberger said. “There are only about five of us left, so we definitely need more volunteers.”

Hershberger said the festival’s committee meets monthly throughout the year, and every other week leading up to the festival.

The committee is in need of someone to help bring in sponsorships, Hershberger said. The festival was canceled in 2013 due to rain, and organizers gave vendors who had paid for that event a free space in 2014.

An increase in sponsorship now is needed to help offset the lost revenue from last year.

“We need significant sponsorship,” she said.

The committee also needs a technical chairman to update and manage the website, a public relations specialist, and someone to oversee management of the food vendors.

“There is so much to do,” Hershberger said. “And it has to be done pretty quickly.”

Hershberger said the committee hopes it can find volunteers with interest or experience in those areas.

Anyone interested in volunteering can send a letter to info@butlerfallfestival.com

Hershberger said the committee will make a decision the week of April 13 on whether it will host the festival.

Hershberger said the festival attracts more than 10,000 to downtown each year. Last year it had more than 100 vendors.

“This is one of the festivals that really highlights downtown,” she said, adding stores benefit from the large crowds it attracts. “But people need to realize it’s put on by a group of volunteers, not the city.”