Get Ready For the Bantam Jeep Festival (Photos)

1. A little background

Coming up is the 76th anniversary of the Jeep and you better believe it that things will be rocking in nearby Butler, Pa. This place celebrates everything that has to do with the little off-roader and the company that holds a distinction. Why Bantam of all places? Because the Bantam Jeep was developed there and built from 1937 to 1940.  What happened then was the U.S. Army gave Ford and Willys-Overland the blueprints of the Bantam and produced the vehicles for the military. Bantam then ceased production after producing only 2,675 Jeeps and went into making trailers. 

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2. In Jeep activities

Now that we have that history lesson out of the way, let's talk about all of the fun stuff waiting for someone in Bantam during the festival. There are events for those who made the trek there with their Jeep and wish to join in one some behind the wheel activities. "The Moraine Trail Ride" takes drivers through Moraine State Park to see sites that are normally inaccessible by vehicles and are virtually untouched. This one is okay for beginner and stock Jeeps but a front tow hook is required. Another escape is "Jeeps on the Rock Trail Ride" which is another stock Jeep friendly ride that goes near Slippery Rock, Pa. but the difficulty on this one is medium compared to the Moraine Trail Ride. 

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3. Out of Jeep activities

The unique thing about the Bantam Jeep celebration is that there are also activities for goers to take part in that get them out of and away from their beloved vehicles. Events such as "Faces of Jeep" take one through the years showing grilles from the 1940s and 1950s to see what went into these classic parts. There will also be how-to clinics going on so that you can watch the installation of parts or what goes into prepping a vehicle for a particular off-road excursion. If you happened to bring some kids along with you then there are things to keep them busy also: "Little Jeepers Playground." Here they will have arts and crafts as well as mini-vehicles for the young ones to ride around in. 

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4. History buffs rejoice

For history buffs out there, Bantam will take you through a Jeep exhibit that tells the story of the American Bantam Car Company with the help of a special "Jeeps Through the Decades" display. There is also a recreated World War II encampment that features reenactors who will detail life during the time along with the 1940s Jeep. For a more hands-on experience, there is a Historic Travels Tour that visits locations in Butler County that follows the steps of young George Washington in 1753. The tour includes a stop at the historic Old Stone House Tavern which is a historic inn and museum. 

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5. It's an invasion!

What you see here is what's called the Big Jeep Invasion that takes place on Friday night in downtown Butler. The streets get closed down so that festival-goers can enjoy all the vehicles present on foot without danger of passing motorists. Vehicle counts for this one have grown substantially every year with last year's invasion night playing host to almost 20,000 Jeeps. 

For more information about the festival that runs from June 9-11th at Cooper's Lake Campground, visit the Bantam Jeep Festival.

>>Join the conversation about the Bantam Jeep Festival right here in JK Forum!

For help with maintenance and service on your Jeep, check out the how-to section of JK-Forum.com