All things jeep celebrated at Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival in Butler County

Tom Davidson | Saturday, June 8, 2019 12:08 p.m.

Bantam Jeep Festival

Jeep owners and those who enjoy the storied history behind them are flocking to Butler County this weekend for the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, which runs through Sunday at Cooper’s Lake Campground in Worth Township, near Slippery Rock.

The festival is organized by the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association and celebrates the 79-year history of the jeep in Butler County. It was first built there by the American Bantam Car Co. for military use during World War II.

It is a packed house here at the Butler Jeep Invasion in Butler, Pennsylvania. Tons of people, Jeeps, music and food. All part of the @bantamjeepfest. #jeeplife #jeep #jeepwrangler #jeeptj #jeepcj7 #jeepcj5 #bantamjeepfestival #jeepbeef #jpmagazine #jeep… https://t.co/UK8RYtFYs0 pic.twitter.com/w7Jh5oGTsa

— Quadratec (@Quadratec) June 8, 2019

Bantam produced a total of 2,675 jeeps and never produced another vehicle after that. They then produced ‘jeep’ cargo trailers, torpedo motors and other items until they closed in 1956, according to the Butler County tourism website.

Just a muddy Friday here at the @bantamjeepfest Jeep playground mud pit. This one looks like an all-afternoon cleaning job. #bantamjeepfestival #haukdesigns #rock_slide_eng #mud #muddyjeep #jeep #jeepbeef #jeeplife #jeepjk #jeeplove https://t.co/dFi9SMav3r pic.twitter.com/KadNUv4vEJ

— Quadratec (@Quadratec) June 7, 2019

“We’re proud to host one of the largest annual gatherings of Jeep owners anywhere in North America,” organizers say on the festival’s website.

New this year is a Bantam Barbee Jeep Race, a Bantam Festival of Lights and a Bantam Rough Riders Trail Ride.

Project BT3-Caboose and the Alaskan Postal Scrambler all set for @bantamjeepfest in the Overland Demo area next to the #Jeep playground with @theroadchoseme and @eastcoastoverlandadventures. Come say hello this weekend! #bantam2019 #bantamjeepfestival #jpfreek pic.twitter.com/QlBuftjdRP

— JPFreek Magazine (@JPFreek) June 7, 2019

For the full schedule of events, click here.