After walking the red carpet Wednesday, Nov. 16, attendees of the annual Butler Downtown celebration will receive a special message from musician and actor Ice-T.

Audrianna Bly, vice president of Butler Downtown, said the board of directors bought a cameo from Ice-T as an additional draw for the celebratory event. She said the annual celebration is a commemoration of everything happening in the city.

“It’s just something fun, something different to do to tell people what we do with Butler Downtown,” Bly said. “It used to be just a meeting; now we try to do something a little bigger.”

The event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Butler’s Grand Ballroom downtown, and local residents, business owners and community leaders are welcome to join in the fun, according to a news release from Butler Downtown.

In addition to food and drinks, Bly said attendees will be able to network with community members and leaders as well as hear what Butler Downtown has done over the past year, and what its members are planning for the future.

One of the other purposes of the event is to honor local businesses and individuals making a difference in the community. Butler Downtown receives nominations for each category, and the board members vote on which one will be recognized.

“The awards we give out are special every year, and it’s nice to be able to give those out,” Bly said.

Bly said some of the biggest talking points Butler Downtown committee leaders will discuss at the celebration include the success of the summer’s Foodie Fridays, the increased focus on business ribbon cuttings, the publishing of quarterly newsletters, the redesign of the website, and the Fairy Door Trail created by the Design Committee.

As she explained, a lot happens in the city through the work of Butler Downtown.

“I personally do look forward to it every year,” Bly said. “We get to brag about the boards and committees and the work everyone does. ... It’s a night to hear positive things and be proud of the work being done in Butler.”

The event is free for those attending, and registration is not required. For information on Butler Downtown, visit butlerdowntown.org.