Jeeps, which are synonymous with Butler, will be everywhere downtown June 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. during the Jeep Invasion, which is part of the 8th annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, which runs from June 8 to June 10.

Butler is hosting enough activities to let residents and visitors enjoy warm sunshine and cool evenings all summer long.

Events and places to enjoy the outdoors include concerts, festivals, plays, baseball games, parks and playgrounds.

“If you can’t find something to do in the city it’s because you’re not looking very hard,” Mayor Ben Smith said. “We have several festivals coming. There’s the Jeep Festival and the Italian Festival. Those are good experiences for people who live here and people from out of town.”

City workers have Butler’s four parks and three playgrounds ready for fun.

“The parks are open every day. They’re all looking nice,” Smith said.

Memorial Park, Father Marinaro Park, Ritts Park and Doughboy Park, and the Institution Hill, South Side and South Hills playgrounds are open. Memorial Park has seven shelters that can be rented for cookouts and parties.

Plans are being finalized for a children’s program at the playgrounds Mondays through Fridays from noon to 3 p.m. Lunch and activities are planned.

Rotary Walk and Diamond Park, which features war memorials and a fountain, are also popular summer spots.

Jeeps, which are synonymous with Butler, will be everywhere downtown June 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. during the Jeep Invasion, which is part of the 8th annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, which runs from June 8 to June 10.

The Diehl Automotive Concert Series at the Butler Health System Stage at Locust and Main streets is being held Fridays from June 15 to Aug. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m., Parking for the free concerts is available in the North Main Street lot.

Bike nights, care cruises, themed events are being planned in conjunction with the concert series.

Treats for the taste buds can be found during Food Fridays, which are held the last Friday of each month from May through September in the North Main Street lot and the adjacent Peoples Natural Gas lot.

“It’s a parking lot full of food trucks. It was an inaugural event last year and got a good response. We’re really looking forward to having it again this year,” Smith said.

The 43rd annual Butler Road Race is set for June 23 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The stage and lights of the William A. Lehnerd Performance Hall in Memorial Park will host the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler’s performance of Jerry’s Girls on July 13, 14, 20, 21 and 22.

Kelly Automotive Park is hosting Legion baseball games and the Butler BlueSox will open their season May 31. Fans can root for the home team to make the playoffs, which begin in August.

Butler County Historical Society is organizing a vintage baseball game Aug. 25 at the park, featuring retired players from the area wearing vintage uniforms and playing by vintage rules.

And four local bands are performing a concert at the ballpark Aug. 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The two bands playing first are still being lined up. The Gents will be the third band. The main act, Anger the Ant, will perform last.

By Steve Ferris, Eagle Staff Writer