With the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival entering its fifth year, a number of Jeep enthusiasts can say they've been along for the entire ride.

Tim Watson of Cranberry Township is one of the participants who has been to each year of the festival, although it may be hard for him to top the first year.

“I proposed to my wife at that festival,” he said, adding the proposal came during its trophy presentation. “I gave her a trophy that said 'Will you marry me?'”

While Watson and his wife, Kirsten, agree the first year will obviously be a special memory, he thinks the festival itself has gotten better over the years.

“There wasn't a whole lot of room for trails,” he said of the first festival at the Butler Farm Show Grounds. “When hearing about a Jeep event, people expect miles of trails. Once it was moved to Cooper's Lake, we were able to have those miles of trails.”

Watson said he volunteers as a trail guide at the festival.

He said he is excited about new, less treacherous trails.

“This year they'll have more trails for stock Jeeps,” he said. “It goes through the woods for a decent experience of off-roading, without the hassle of off-roading.”

Watson said the one thing that has been constant through the years is the festival's friendly atmosphere.

“Everyone waves to each other,” he said. “It's a fun time.”

Gerald Oswald of Saxonburg said he has noticed growth over the first four years of the festival.

He has seen a specific increase of people buying newer models.

“What I notice is a lot of people have just bought Jeeps and are learning more about the growing hobby,” he said. “I liken it to Harley-Davidson. Originally it was only for hard-core motorcyclists, but has since become more popular.”

While Oswald sees many new riders, the hobby has been a part of his life since he was 14.

“I'm a lifelong enthusiast,” he said. “I grew up driving one.”

His 1963 Willys Jeep will be part of the festival's parade, which will feature models from each of the past 75 years.

Oswald, who volunteers in the history exhibit at the festival, said he thinks the historic aspect is a great part of the weekend event.

“I thought it was great for the county for everyone to learn the story behind Bantam,” he said. “It was always a little secret that not everybody knew about.”

While he loves the vehicle, he said he isn't sure if his two children, Suzanne, 12, and Will, 9, will begin driving with a Jeep.

“They're not the most practical vehicles,” he said. “They're more of a toy than a means for transportation.”

But he still enjoys sharing his hobby with his son and daughter.

Butler-native Michele Panei Skarada, who lives in Altoona, said her whole family looks forward to the festival each year.

She said even the family dog joins them on rides.

“We go every year,” she said, adding the family brings two of its four Jeeps.

Skarada said the Jeeps are mostly stock, so she likes that the festival has become more accessible for unmodified vehicles.

“Last year they had a baby mud pit for stock Jeeps,” she said. “You could get dirty but not worry about damaging your Jeep.”

She said the festival has grown each of the years, but added she hopes to bring a larger crowd from central Pennsylvania.

“We have a huge Jeep presence here, but I don't see many people from Altoona at the festival,” she said, adding crowds from Pittsburgh and out-of-state greatly outnumber them. “I think I want to help improve that next year.”