Purchase 2020 Shirts & Help Non-Profit Groups

We all enjoy having something collectible...something that is rare or reminds us of an unusual time. Here is your chance to add to your collectible collection and help some great non-profit groups in Butler County.

We have quite a few of our 2020 Parade and 2020 Festival shirts remaining. And we have quite a few non-profit groups that we partner with to execute the Festival. These organizations help with parking, merchandise, admissions, traffic control and other important tasks. In return, we make donations to their groups. Those donations have totaled more than $81,000 between 2016-2019.

Since we can't have the Festival this year, these organizations are missing out on important funds to support people in Butler County. And that's where you can help. Between now and August 30, we will donate the proceeds of our 2020 shirt sales to our partner organizations. So, not only will you have a cool shirt for the "Festival that didn't happen", you will help our non-profit partners continue doing good things in the birthplace of the Jeep. It really does feel good to do good, so order your shirt in our online store today! Prices include shipping and handling and are limited to the sizes currently available. We'll look forward to announcing in September how much we are able to donate to our partners thanks to your support.

Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival Cancels 2020 Festival

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

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