New positive entertainment will continue to attract people to Butler County.

While Harmony’s inaugural Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival on Sept. 8 experienced some challenges due to rain that probably kept some people away, the event nevertheless demonstrated its potential for being a successful, much-larger attraction.

More aggressively promoted, the festival, like Butler’s now-annual Jeep festival, could bring people here from well beyond this county, even well beyond Pennsylvania.

To the music festival organizers’ credit, some bands already have been lined up for next year. According to Harmony Borough Council President Jack Shanks, the second annual festival is planned for the first Saturday after Labor Day.

Shanks said there’s the chance that next year’s festival could be a two-day event, or that a separate festival could be held in the spring.

It would seem that one two-day event would have a better opportunity to evolve into something big for the community.

Of benefit to the festival and community was musicians’ opinions praising Harmony as a great location for such an event.

“This could become a very big deal because it’s such a great setting,” said one banjo and guitar player.

The 1805 Harmony Museum barn provided a great setting for the festival’s music, but the other music location at the corner of Main and Mercer streets served the festival well too, although it was at the mercy of the rainy weather for awhile.

All of those involved in organizing and overseeing the festival deserve praise for their efforts. Those involved were the Harmony Historical Society, the Harmony Business Association, the Grace Church, the Harmony Fire Company and the borough council.

The festival was a fundraiser for the borough’s parks and trails.

“Everybody came together,” said Dennis McCurdy, a festival organizer.

Meanwhile, another musician characterized Harmony as a “perfect town” for a bluegrass festival.

For the festival organizers, it’s not too soon to sit down for initial planning sessions for 2013. The key is to keep the enthusiasm from Sept. 8 alive and vibrant.

In recent years, Butler County has greatly expanded its standing as an entertainment destination. Energetic planning can ensure that this county continues to experience the popularity and followers within the bluegrass community.

Word-of-mouth from the Sept. 8 festival, no doubt, already is working on the 2013 festival’s behalf.