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Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association Celebrates Giving Tuesday by Awarding $18,950 to Twenty-four Butler County Non-Profit Organizations 

Photo by Matthew Taylor

Giving Tuesday is an international movement to inspire people to participate in a day of giving at the start of the holiday season, typically the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association (FBJA) is celebrating Giving Tuesday by continuing its tradition to support Butler County’s non-profit organizations. Twenty-four groups were selected to receive a financial gift ranging from $500 to $2,000 to help them provide services in Butler County. This is the sixth year that FBJA, owners and organizers of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival and Bantam TrailFest, have given back to the community.  

“Our organization believes very strongly about giving back to the community that supports us and our Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival each year,” said Todd Wagner, FBJA president. “Giving Tuesday is an appropriate day to announce the organizations who will benefit from the generosity of those who attend Bantam. Every year it’s so rewarding to hear about the amazing things these non-profits are doing for our friends and neighbors in Butler County, and we are pleased to help them continue their great work.” 

FBJA has given $140,150 in gifts to a wide-variety of non-profit groups since 2016. In addition, $132,417 been given to organizations who help execute the Festival. The total amount of support given to Butler County organizations since 2016 is $272,567.

The Association’s board of directions selected these organizations from the 2022 applicants: 

  • Associated Artists of Butler County/The Butler Art Center and Gallery

  • Auxiliary, American Legion Post 474

  • BC3 Education Foundation

  • Blackwood Theatre Organ Society dba Blackwood Arts

  • Breakthrough-Butler

  • Butler Breast Cancer And Women's Cancer Support Group

  • Butler County Assoc. of the Blind

  • Butler County Historical Society

  • Butler Downtown

  • Butler Township Volunteer Fire District 3

  • CB Rangers

  • Disabled American Veterans DAV

  • Glade Run Lutheran Services

  • Harmony Fire District

  • Herman Volunteer Fire Company

  • Musical Theatre Guild of Butler

  • Penn Twp Volunteer Fire Department

  • Petroleum Valley Youth Coalition

  • Prospect Area Preservation Society

  • Prospect Boro/Franklin Twp Volunteer Fire Department

  • Scholars Run Conservancy Inc.

  • Slippery Rock Community Library

  • YWCA Butler

  • Zelienople Lions Club

The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association was formed in October 2015. It is comprised of more than 80 volunteers who work together to plan and execute the successful Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival which attracts nearly 3,000 registered Jeeps to Butler County each June to celebrate Butler’s notoriety as the birthplace of the Jeep.  The 12th annual Festival will be held June 9-11, 2023.  Those who wish to get involved in the event can email Info@Bantam.org or call 724-256-4050.

On-Site Registration Details

If you missed our pre-registration or will call deadline, don’t worry!  You can still be part of one of the most popular Jeep events in the United States.

On-site registration opens at 8 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 10-12. On-Site registration closes at 3 pm on Friday, 5 pm on Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday.  See the map for location of the registration tent.  We accept both cash and credit. There is an on-site registration fee of $10.

Additional passenger wristbands can be purchased on-site as well for anyone who will be driving or riding in a Jeep at Coopers Lake.

  • Adults are $20

  • Minors 7-17 are $10

  • Kids Under 7 are Free but MUST be registered for

These are the activities that still have openings available at on-site registration:

We’re looking forward to seeing you at Bantam!

Will Call Registration Available Now through May 31st!

WILL CALL: Register Now through May 31

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WILL CALL: Register Now through May 31 〰️

Photo Credit: Daniel Steiner

Will Call Registration Available May 16-31

If you missed our pre-registration deadline for this year's Festival, today is your lucky day!

Instead of waiting to register your Jeep for the Festival at on-site registration, you can still register between now and May 31st. This enables you to guarantee your spot in available activities. There is a $5 processing fee. Click the button below to register.

Register Now!

Will Call Registrants WILL NOT receive a registration packet in the mail. You must come to the Registration Tent at Cooper's Lake to pick up your packet. Simply find the Will Call line and your packet will be waiting for you to grab and go. If you are registering for the Jeep Invasion only, please remember you still must come to Cooper's Lake to pick up your credentials.

Activities Available for Will Call Registration:

  • Bantam Barbee Jeep Race (Saturday evening, Coopers Lake)

  • Bantam Poker Run (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Coopers Lake)

  • Bantam Property Trails (Friday, Saturday & Sunday Sessions, Bantam Property)

  • Best of Bantam (Saturday, Coopers Lake)

  • Jeep Invasion (Friday, Downtown Butler) - Limited Space

  • Jeep Playground & On-Site Trails (All Weekend, Coopers Lake) – Limited Space

  • Jeep Team Challenge (Saturday - Limited Space at 1 PM, Sunday at 9:30 AM)

  • Light Bars and Brews (Saturday night, Coopers Lake)

  • Mystery Road Rally (Friday, Saturday and Sunday

SOLD OUT

  • Bantam Night Ops Mission #2022

  • Babes of Bantam Trail Ride

  • Jeep Team Challenge Saturday 10 AM

  • Moraine Trail Ride

  • State Park Scenic Tour

Rib Night tickets and BF Goodrich tire raffle tickets are still available when you register.

Twenty-nine Butler County Non-Profit Organizations Receive $27,700 from Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association

The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association (FBJA) is continuing its tradition to support Butler County’s non-profit organizations. Twenty-nine groups were selected to receive a financial gift ranging from $500 to $2,000 to help them provide services in Butler County. This is the fifth year that FBJA, owners of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, has given back to the community.  

“The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival has a tremendous economic impact in Butler County, and we want the event to make a difference in the daily lives of those who live here too,” said Todd Wagner, president. “It’s important to our organization that our volunteers know their efforts not only support the Festival, but they improve the lives of others here in Butler County.” 

FBJA has given $121,200 in gifts to a wide-variety of non-profit groups since 2016. In addition, $118,679 has been given to organizations who help execute the Festival. The total amount of support given to Butler County organizations since 2016 is $239,879.

The Association’s board of directions selected these organizations from the 2021 applicants: 

  • American Legion Riders Lyndora Post #778

  • Associated Artist of Butler County

  • Butler AM Rotary Charities

  • Butler Breast Cancer and Women Cancer Support Group

  • Butler County Family YMCA

  • Butler County Soccer Association

  • Butler County Symphony Association

  • Butler Downtown Association

  • Butler Little Theatre

  • Center Township Athletic Association

  • Center Township Friends of Scouting

  • CISM Team of Butler County

  • Community Action Network for Drug-free Lifestyle Empowerment, Inc.)

  • Ellen O'Brien Gaiser Center

  • Evans City Lions Club

  • Evans City Public Library

  • Fishing For Memories, Inc.

  • Friends of Preston Park Foundation

  • Grapevine Center, Inc.

  • Harrisville Vol. Fire Co.

  • Hero’s Angels

  • Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center

  • Northwest Pennsylvania Steam Engine and Old Equipment Assoc., Inc.

  • Prospect Volunteer Fire Department

  • SVDP Butler Inc.

  • The Arc of Butler County

  • The Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, Inc.: The Kids' Weekend Backpack Program

  • Wreaths Across America Butler

  • Zelienople Historical Society

The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association was formed in October 2015. It is comprised of more than 60 volunteers who work together to plan and execute the successful Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival which attracts nearly 3,000 registered Jeeps to Butler County each June to celebrate Butler’s notoriety as the birthplace of the Jeep.  The 11th annual Festival will be held June 10-12, 2022.  Those who wish to get involved in the event can email Info@Bantam.org or call 724-256-4050.