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Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival Cancels 2020 Festival

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The 10th anniversary celebration of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival will need to wait until next year.  Despite the Festival’s plan to postpone the event until October if the Coronavirus did not permit the Festival to be held in June, the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association (FBJA) must put the brakes on the 10th anniversary event.  Unfortunately, Cooper’s Lake Campground, where the event is held, must close for the remainder of the year due to the repercussions of COVID-19.

“We have been optimistic all along that we would be able to celebrate our 10th anniversary either in June or October,” said Todd Wagner, FBJA president.  “We know that thousands of Jeep enthusiasts were looking forward to being at Bantam, and we and the owners of Cooper’s Lake Campground are truly disappointed that the present circumstances will not allow us to hold the Festival as we had hoped.”

Festival registration for those already registered will be automatically credited and rolled over for the 2021 Festival.  Those who would like a refund may request one by May 31st by clicking here. Cooper’s Lake Campground will follow the same procedure, crediting existing reservations and rolling over assigned campsites for 2021.  Both the Festival and Cooper’s Lake will reach out to registered customers with further details and instructions to request refunds via email this week.

The Festival plans to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2021. However, the Festival urges Jeep enthusiasts to keep the weekend of October 2-4 penciled in on their calendars.  “We are working on some plans that we hope will turn this frustrating news into a bit of excitement for our Bantam fans,” said Wagner. “We need some time to get things finalized, and we will announce details in the coming weeks.”

The 1981 Jeep Scrambler raffle drawing will be held in early October.  About 500 tickets are still remaining and can be purchased in the Festival’s online store for $25 each. Click here to purchase tickets.

Festival Provides Money & Muscle for Butler County Food Distribution Event on April 28

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The images are familiar in Butler County. Miles of vehicles lined up to attend one of the nation’s largest Jeep-only events each June. But this time the vehicles aren’t waiting to fill a summer weekend with fun. Instead they are waiting to fill their trunk with food.

The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association (FBJA), the non-profit owners and organizers of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, is providing money and volunteers to help feed Butler County families.  The group of Jeep enthusiasts who attract thousands of Jeeps from more than 30 states each year gave $2,500 to provide food for Butler County families in need.  They also are providing more than 40 volunteers who will load food into car trunks.

“We know there are many people in Butler County who are unable to put food on their table, and our local food banks are struggling to meet the demand,” said Todd Wagner, president of the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association. “Our organization relies on the support of hundreds of volunteers to execute the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival each year. This donation of our money and time is one more way we can give back to thousands of families in Butler County when they need us most.”

The food distribution event is the second one held in Butler this month by the Alliance for Non-Profit Resources, Community Partnership and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Organizers say that 1,500 vehicles will receive two boxes of dry goods, produce, bread and milk as a result of the FBJA partnership and additional financial donations from several groups and individuals.

“The need we are seeing right now is unprecedented, and donations are needed so we can continue to help families put food on the table,” said Sandra Curry, community partnership manager of the Alliance for Non-Profit Resources. “We are grateful to the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association for not only providing funding to purchase milk but for providing nearly all of the volunteers we need to execute this crucial distribution event.”

The food distribution event will be held on Tuesday, April 28 at the Big Butler Fairgrounds starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 1,500 trunks are loaded. Drivers and passengers must enter using the Fairground’s South entrance and must remain in their vehicle at all times and follow other outlined procedures.

“This financial gift is just one of many that our organization gives to Butler County non-profit groups each year,” said Wayne Kovac, FBJA treasurer.  “We typically award our gifts each fall after the Festival takes place, but the need for help is happening right now.  The Jeep community is one that gives back to others, and we are proud to step up and do our part for Butler County.”

Coronavirus Update

Dear Bantam Fans:

We hope all of you are staying healthy and that many of you live in areas where you are enjoying warmer spring weather so that you are able to get your Jeep out and go for a topless and doorless ride. 

We know many of you are curious as to whether Bantam 2020 will go on.  We want you to know that we are doing everything possible to hold our 10th anniversary event on June 12-14.  We are fortunate that we still have many weeks until the event, hopefully enough time for the curve to flatten and social distancing to end. Our first priority is for everyone’s physical health, but we know there is nothing better for a Jeep enthusiast’s mental health than to have fun with others who love Jeeps as much as they do.

We will make a firm decision about our June event by May 13, earlier if conditions warrant.  If we are forced to postpone the event due to Covid-19, Bantam 2020 will be held October 2-4. We hope you will pencil that weekend into your calendar.  However, please know we are still doing everything that we always do to prepare for the event on June 12-14.  We want to continue to make Bantam one of your favorite weekends of the year, whether it happens in June like normal or we need to delay it until October.

Due to the situation, we are extending pre-registration until Friday, May 22 if the June event will take place.

Our current cancellation policy enables you to cancel your registration until April 30 and receive a 90% refund (the 10 percent pays for fees incurred that can’t be recovered). Our COVID-19 Cancellation Policy allows cancellations to be made until May 31.

If we must postpone the June event, you may choose one of these options:

1.      Roll your existing registration over to the October 2-4, 2020 event

2.      Receive a credit for our June 2021 event based on the activity registration fees and passenger wristbands you already paid for

3.      Request a 90% refund of your registration fees (must be done by May 31, 2020)

The 1981 Jeep Scrambler raffle drawing will take place on the Saturday of the Festival, whether it is held in June or October.  The BFG Tire Raffles (tickets may be purchased during your registration) will also take place in June or October.

In the meantime, make the most of this opportunity to take advantage of some extra time at home with your family.  And even though we say this every year, it means more now than ever before…we can’t wait to see you in June.

Sincerely,

Todd Wagner
President
Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association

March 12, 2020 - Festival Update

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FESTIVAL PACKAGE DEADLINE: PRICE INCREASES TO $125 APRIL 1ST

Save money on popular activities + get offers available only to package purchasers

March 31st marks the deadline to purchase our Festival package for $100 ($145 value). Participate in popular Jeep activities like the Jeep Playground, On-Site Trails, Mystery Road Rally and Bantam Poker Run. Plus, get two decals, a $25 voucher to North Country Brewing Company/North Country Canning Company/The Harmony Inn, and the Bantam Bonus Card. With the Bonus Card, you'll be able to take advantage of additional savings from select vendors and get freebies not available to any other Festival attendees.

The package cost rises to $125 if purchased April 1 - May 8th.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

COMMEMORATIVE GIFTS:

Celebrate 10 Years of Bantam with

10th Anniversary Zippo Lighters & Case Knives

We're marking our 10th Anniversary with a special collection of Zippo Lighters, Case Knives and a set of both that comes in a commemorative tin. The Case Knife is the trapper style featuring a bone handle imprinted with a Jeep and 10 years text. One of the double blades is also imprinted with the Festival name and other details. The collectible Zippo lighter will have an olive green finish with a full-color 10th Anniversary Festival logo on the front. The knife and lighter can be purchased separately or they can be purchased together in a limited gift set that also includes an exclusive metal tin with the Festival's 10th anniversary logo imprinted on the lid in black.

A limited number of items will be available at the Festival so we recommend you place your order in the online store or during pre-registration. All items will be shipped in June and prices include 6% sales tax, postage and handling.

  • Commemorative Lighter & Knife set in tin: $115 - Purchase set here

  • Commemorative Knife Only: $75 - Purchase knives here

  • Commemorative Lighter Only: $30 - Purchase lighters here

DON'T MISS OUR 2020 JEEP PLAYGROUND

Tons of fun for participants & spectators alike!

Do piles of dirt, a rock garden, and concrete jersey barriers sound like fun obstacles for your rig to maneuver over? Sign up for our Jeep Playground, sponsored by BF Goodrich and Quadratec, to see what your Jeep can do! We also have a mud pit, log bridges, tires and more! The course is fit for both stock and modified Jeeps, and the playground is coordinated by Rausch Creek Off Road Park.

Not registering your Jeep this year? No problem! Cheer on participants attempting obstacles like the mud pit from our bleachers, which are sponsored by Fishbone Offroad!

After your fun in the Jeep Playground, your Jeep might need a quick shower so be sure to stop by the Jeep Wash station, sponsored by Amsoil. Boy scouts from a local troop will be available during the event to wash your Jeep for a donation. The Scouts receive 100 percent of funds raised.

TRAIL WORK DAY IS APRIL 18TH

AT COOPERS LAKE CAMPGROUND

Help us prepare the on-site trails for June! If you're willing to share a Saturday with us, bring your trimmers, loppers, saws, etc. and sign up to attend by clicking the button below. We will provide a hot lunch to those that help out.

This year, we will begin the day with our Bantam Trail Guide and Playground Expectations Program presented by Kyle Buchter from Offroad Consulting. Attendance at this presentation will meet the requirements for all 2020 Trail and Playground volunteers to participate in the expectations program. The on-site trails are sponsored by Superlift Suspension this year.

Sign up for Trail Day

TIRE AIR-UP STATION RETURNS!

In 2019, we were able to offer an air-up station on-site at Coopers Lake thanks to our friends at Overland Air Systems. We have great news- Overland Air Systems will be sponsoring the on-site air-up station again in 2020! Check the Festival map that will come in your registration packet in May for the station's location.

Purchase Raffle Tickets

View Rules

JEEP SCRAMBLER BUILD UPDATE:

Frame & Lift Installed!

Since our last email, the Jeep Scrambler has underwent the final stages of paint prep at Christopher Cox Automotive and the engine and radiator have been delivered to New Castle School of Trades for their continued work. We appreciate Gabany's Engine Rebuilding Shop in Mercer, Pa. for sharing its expertise on the engine rebuild.

Across the state at Quadratec, the Scrambler's frame is coming together. The frame, made by Throttle Down Kustoms, is 3/16 inch thick with wall box tubing. A 2.5 in Skyjacker Suspensions lift with greasable shackles was also installed by Quadratec. The K02 Tires provided by BFGoodrich Tires will be mounted onto the frame. Soon the rolling chassis will be brought back to New Castle School of Trades where all of the pieces will quickly come together.

We appreciate these partners as well as Omix-ADA, Logans Metal Products Inc., & Hovis Auto & Truck Supply.

The Scrambler will be raffled off on Saturday, June 13th at the Festival but the winner does not need to be present to win. Only 2,000 tickets will be sold at $25 each. You can purchase them during your Jeep registration or through our online store.

FACES OF JEEP GRILLES:

Support the exhibit by presenting a grille!

In addition to our Jeeps through the Decades History Exhibit, sponsored by Omix-ADA, Festival volunteers also install a Faces of Jeep Grilles display which currently includes grilles from 1940 through the 1980s. More grilles will continue to be added in the future. All grilles are original except for seven that were custom manufactured specifically for the exhibit. Stop by during the Festival to see how the Jeep's "face" has evolved!

Each grille has been made possible by Festival attendees, local businesses and Jeep clubs. If you'd like to be a presenter of a grille, please contact us at info@bantam.org. 1980s grilles that are still available include:

  • Wrangler YJ

  • 1986-1987 Cherokee Comanche

  • 1986-1990 XJ Wagoneer

VENDOR UPDATE

What vendors can you look forward to seeing at Bantam 2020? New vendors are listed below!

FULL VENDOR LIST