[BCTCB]

Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival Announces 2012 Registration
Now Available for Jeep Owners and Volunteers

More than one thousand Jeep owners are expected to return to Butler on August 10-12 for the second annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival. Festival organizers announced that online registration is now available for Jeep owners and volunteers who want to be involved in the event that attracted more than 30,000 visitors to the birthplace of the Jeep in 2011.

“Jeep owners have been contacting us on a daily basis for the past few months because they don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to participate with their Jeep,” said Patti Jo Lambert, event director. “We’re excited to have registration underway and look forward to welcoming everyone back to Butler.”

Festival attendees can expect a few new additions in 2012, including:

Number of Jeeps that Can Participate Has Been Set
More Jeeps will be able to participate in 2012. A “Maximum Jeep Capacity” has been established for each activity and published on the Festival’s web site so Jeep owners know how many Jeeps can participate. Registration numbers will be updated in the web site’s registration section so everyone knows how much space is available for each activity. Lambert explained that the maximum quantities were determined so that Jeepers know at the outset that registration for various events is limited.

Jeep Invasion Features A Street Party, Not A Parade
The Festival will kick-off in Downtown Butler on Friday, August 10 with the Jeep Invasion. The event will feature up to 1,200 Jeeps parked along Butler’s Main Street and side streets. The evening event will have a party atmosphere with DJs, food vendors and thousands of Jeep enthusiasts strolling up and down the streets while admiring all of the Jeeps. Downtown businesses will offer special promotions and activities to welcome attendees. Lambert said the Festival’s Planning Committee has decided to attempt to break their Guinness World Record for the Longest Parade of Jeeps in a future year.

New Activities Expand Festival

Saturday Night Features Three New Elements
Three new events are planned for Saturday night. The Jeep Team Challenge is a great opportunity to watch 50 Jeep owners try their hand at some entertaining driving challenges. Watch drivers navigate while blindfolded, cheer on their reverse driving skills and see which team can make the best impression. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and is expected to be one of the highlights of the 2012 event.

The Mystery Road Rally will give 200 Jeeps the chance to go on a scavenger hunt throughout Butler County. Twelve different routes are being designed with stops at some of the County’s businesses and attractions. Prizes will be awarded to the Jeeps who correctly answer trivia questions and return to the Festival closest to the pre-determined time and mileage.

The Great Pig Out will enable Jeepers to feast on a traditional pig roast with all of the trimmings. The evening will also include music, games and other activities designed to give attendees a chance to meet more Jeep enthusiasts and have fun together.

Ruff ‘n Tuff Competition Gives Jeeps More Chances to Compete
Another new event for 2012 is Ruff ‘n Tuff. The Sunday-only event is a spin-off of the traditional Show ‘n Shine and will offer Jeepers the chance to compete in some non-traditional categories. Judges will select the Jeep with the Most Mud, Most Tattoos and the Most Extreme, among others. Trophies will be awarded to the winner in each class.

Military Collectibles Show & Sale and Flea Market Offer Hard-to-Find Items
The Festival is inviting dealers and individuals to sell their military antiques/collectibles and used Jeep parts to attendees. “Since so many people really enjoy the military aspect of the Jeep, we’re also planning an area for dealers to sell military antiques and collectibles which will expand the historical components of the event,” said Lambert. “Jeep owners look forward to finding old parts that are difficult to locate so we’re hoping many Jeepers will clean out their garages and rent a space at the Festival to sell their items.” Registration for booth space will be available on the web site in late February.

2011 Favorites Are Back!
Nearly all of the elements of the 2011 Festival will be back to provide Jeepers yet another fantastic experience. The off-road Jeep Playground and On-Site Trails, Show ‘n Shine, Bantam Jeep history exhibit, Moraine Trail Ride, World War II Encampment, How-To Clinics and merchandise vendors will offer attendees and participants even more to see and do.

“We received tremendous feedback about our inaugural event, and we’re excited about all we have planned for this year,” said Lambert. “Many of the new aspects of the event are the direct result of comments we received from last year’s attendees, and we hope everyone will come this year and see how we’re committed to making the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival a truly not-to-miss event.”

Registration Details for Jeeps and Volunteers
Everyone must pre-register online in order to participate with their Jeep or volunteer at the event. Registration is available at www.bantamjeepfestival.com. Jeeps must have proof of valid liability insurance in order to participate. Rules and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available on the website.

Merchandise Vendor Registration Coming Soon
Last year’s attendees enjoyed meeting all of the companies that sold a wide-variety of Jeep and other merchandise. Nearly 100 businesses or groups reserved booth space in 2011. Companies and organizations will be able to register for 2012 vendor space in March.

For more information, call 724-234-2291 or email
info@bantamjeepfestival.com.

[Jim B]

Butler, Pennsylvania. Nice place. Going to see if a few of my Jeep buddies want to meet up for this.

Please post some pics of the 2011 event on the Wheeling Aftermath forum, would love to see them

Don't forget to place this event on the main calendar so it shows 30 days in advance.

[BCTCB]

After months of planning, the 2nd annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival is well underway. In fact, there are less than 140 days to go! Read on for the latest Festival updates.

2012 Sponsorships are Lining Up

You'll be hearing a lot about the Festival throughout the next few months. Yes, because it's awesome, but also thanks to Armstrong's marketing sponsorship. Armstrong will be running advertisements throughout Western Pa. this summer so others can figure out what you already know -- the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival rocks!

The best place to get down and dirty at the Festival is back! 4Wheel Drive Hardware is sponsoring the Jeep Playground, where you can climb over rocks, maneuver through obstacles and, of course, get muddy! 4WD is also sponsoring a newbie for this year, the Jeep Team Challenge. Bring the whole family to watch this unique event that has Jeep owners doing some unconventional driving exercises that will show off their skills (or lack of them!)

Jeeps of all shapes and sizes can get a taste of off-roading on our offsite trails, sponsored in part by Diehl Automotive. The short trails are perfect for first-timers in stock Jeeps, yet still enjoyable for those decked out for off-roading.

Flea Market Sellers Wanted
Is your garage overflowing? Need some spare cash? We're looking for individuals interested in renting space at our Flea Market. If you have used Jeep parts, there's no better place to get rid of them than at a Festival with thousands of Jeep lovers!

A 10' x 20' space is $75, or $150 for a 20' x 40' space, and you'll receive two vendor wristbands which are equivalent to spectator tickets. You must provide your own table, chairs, etc. To reserve a space, simply go to the Festival website, click "Info" and you'll see the Vendor tab.

If you want to get your hands on a 2012 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival shirt before the event, they can be purchased online during the Participant/Volunteer registration process. All merchandise includes shipping and handling costs. Yes, this means the shirts will cost less at the Festival, but you'll risk the chance of what you want selling out!

Shirts will be mailed every few weeks, so you won't have to wait until August! A merchandise shipping schedule is available in the F.A.Q. section of our website.

How Many States Will Be Represented?
We've only had registration available for four weeks, and already more than 400 Jeep owners from 24 states and Canada have signed up! Make sure you tell your friends to speed it up so they don't miss out on all of the fun! Hmmm....can we have at least 30 states represented this year? Thanks to all of you who have already committed to making the Festival part of your summer season!

Reserve a Booth for your Jeep Club
For all of you enthusiasts out there that are part of a Jeep or Off-Road Club, we've got a great, free opportunity to promote your organization and recruit new members. We're offering a free 10' × 20' booth space to each requesting club. Power, tables, chairs and tents are not provided.

Participating Clubs must commit to providing a minimum of two qualified volunteers on Saturday and Sunday to help on the Playground and On-site Trails for one shift per day (approx 4 hours). To reserve your club's space, simply go to www.BantamJeepFestival.com, click "Info" and see the tab for Clubs. We really appreciate the volunteer help, and hope you'll want to take advantage of the volunteer benefits and promotion opportunity! It's a win-win situation for all!

Go Ahead and Like Us!
If you like the Festival, why not like it on Facebook? We're on Facebook and Twitter and would love to have you follow our posts. Updates are made regularly, so it's the best way to keep in touch with the Festival and fuel your enthusiasm! We're trying to reach 3,000 Facebook likes by August 10th - can you help us reach our goal?

Do You Have an Addiction?
Your addiction very well might be Jeeps, but in this case, we're wondering about the time you spend online? If you regularly visit Jeep/off-road forums, make blog posts or spend time on Facebook, help us spread the word about the event! If you would like us to provide information for you to post, just email us at info@bantamjeepfestival.com.

Is There Someone Else You'd Like to See?
Vendor registration is now open on www.BantamJeepFestival.com, so if there's a business you'd like to see at the 2012 Festival, be sure to tell them! Prices are reasonable and the attendees are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet!

Check Out These Great Jeep Events
If you like hanging out with other Jeepers, you might want to think about having some fun at two worthwhile events. Jeep Beach is coming up on April 25 in Daytona Beach, Florida. If you are up for a road trip this spring, then head South and have some fun. You can read the info here.

Adventure Chrysler Jeep Dodge, one of our 2012 Festival sponsors, is organizing the Northeast Ohio Jeep Road Rally. The special fundraising event will take place on Saturday, May 19. Funds raised will go to support the work of the Chardon Healing Fund, which supports the needs resulting from the tragic events at Chardon High School on February 27, 2012. Join Adventure for this very special fundraiser, meet your fellow Jeepers, and show what it means to be a Jeep Owner. Check out the details!

[BCTCB]

Bantam Jeep Fest Goes Global!
Last month, we mentioned that Jeep owners from 24 states and Canada have already registered for the Festival. Now, we're happy to announce that several countries are being represented.

Our friends from Down Under will be back to visit with participants and enjoy the Festival this year. If you didn't see it, Australia's Jeep Action Magazine gave us some great coverage of the 2011 Festival in multiple issues. How far will you travel to attend the Bantam Jeep Fest?Register now and give us some news to share next time!

Butler is the Best
Smithsonian Magazine ranked Butler, Pa. number seven on its list of America's Best Small Towns. You can read the full article here, but much of what attributed to this success is our Jeep heritage - a feat we share with all of you! We hope you'll make the trip a bit early, or stay a few days later and explore the other sites that make Butler "the best." Request a FREE Official Visitors Guide, which includes maps, itineraries and a discount card. Brochures are also available to suit your specific interests, such as history or shopping.

Centre City Summer Jam to Coincide with Jeep Invasion
The good times will roll during the Jeep Invasion. Not only will there be DJs throughout downtown, but Butler Downtown is sponsoring a Summer Jam to coincide. Three different bands will perform throughout the evening in a brand new venue, just off of Main Street. There will be no shortage of music to contribute to the fun!

You're the First to Hear of Our New Demo
If you like speed, you'll love the newest component we're adding to the Festival. The Rausch Creek RCRocs Race Series is coming to us to do what they do best. Watch these professional drivers race through our Jeep Playground. Their high horsepower, custom-tuned rock race vehicles can fly over the rock crawl, but are also built for speed. This will be happening Saturday night from 5-5:45 p.m. in the Jeep Playground that is presented by 4WD Hardware.

WWII Encampment Bigger and Better in 2012
If you loved the WWII Encampment, make sure you stop back this year. It will be even bigger and better than before. First Frontier Mechanized Cavalry is working on setting up a field telephone network between various tents throughout the camp.

This will be a great aspect to get the kids interested in history. For our new Festival fans, the encampment features more than 20 original 1940s Jeeps. The Cavalry dresses in uniform and recreates a military camp to tell stories about their restored Jeeps and the winning role they played in the war. The encampment is presented by Highmark.

Sponsors Rolling In
Moraine State Park is working on a brochure to accompany the Moraine Trail Ride, sponsored by 84 Lumber. The brochure points out interesting sights and facts along the 5-mile trail. This trail is a once-a-year opportunity, open just for our Festival!


Quadratec is proud to sponsor both the Show 'n Shine and Ruff 'n Tuff competitions this year. Whether your Jeep is spotless or covered in mud, there's a category for you to enter so be sure to sign up soon. Maybe you'll take home a great trophy and bragging rights for a whole year! Be sure to check out the great merchandise special deals they'll have at the Festival this year.

Thanks to Butler Health System for sponsoring the Jeep Invasion. We will dominate downtown Butler on August 10th with 1,500 Jeeps of all shapes and sizes. It will be quite a sight so be sure to come and enjoy our street party.


Spots are also filling quickly for the Mystery Road Rally sponsored by Peoples Natural Gas and Sheetz. Only 200 Jeeps can participate in this scavenger hunt across the County. Register soon so you and your family and friends can have some fun exploring our county. Twelve differentdriving routes are being created for this new activity.

Sneak Peek at 2012 Vendors
Wondering who will be at the Festival this year? Here's a sneak peek at the vendors who have registered early:Draken Offroad, Gr8tops, Mountain Off-Road Enterprises,Skyjacker Suspensions, 1 Source Publications, Meridian Off Road Center, Truck Stuff And More, Hyline Offroad, Superchips, BDS Suspension, Zone Offroad Products, Winfield Winery and Adventurous 4x4. If there's someone you really want to see there, let them know! All of our vendors will be stocked with parts, accessories and more. Start making your wish list now and be prepared to take home some great stuff!

We Made It!
Thanks to you, we reached our goal of 3,000 Facebook likes. Our deadline was by the Festival, so we're absolutely thrilled to have reached the goal more than 100 days early! Guess we need to aim a little higher now! If you don't already "like" us, please do. If you do, thanks - tell a friend or two! (or all of them!)

[Krocker]

I've been reading lots of event coming up here... this festival seem to be far enough hopefully I can prepare of this event

[MikeJoel]

looks like it will be a fun Festival.