This is it: Homecoming weekend in Butler County for Jeep enthusiasts. The fifth annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival has some unique features for 2015, which happens to be the 75th anniversary of the Jeep’s creation right here in Butler.

Jeep and auto enthusiasts will get to see the only known re-creation of the Bantam Reconnaissance Car (BRC), the world’s original Jeep. Duncan Rolls of Longview, Texas, is bringing his re-creation of the Bantam Reconnaissance Car pilot, the vehicle on which all Jeep models were based.

Rolls’ BRC will lead the parade through Butler that kicks off the weekend’s festivities. The first 75 Jeeps leading the parade will represent each of the 75 years of the vehicle’s existence.

The parade begins at 2:30 p.m. today from Butler County Community College through downtown Butler.

An added bit of drama will be the Heritage Festival’s attempt to take back the title of world’s largest parade of Jeeps. A Jeep event just two months ago in Florida captured the Guinness record with 1,846 Jeeps participating.

Local organizers are determined to take it back. They’re expecting more than 2.000 vehicles registered for this year’s event.

The Jeep Invasion follows until 10 p.m. on Main Street. It’s a huge car show featuring Jeeps of every make and model imaginable. Jeeps representing all 75 years of the vehicle’s history will be showcased at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, corner of North Main and West Pearl streets.

Main Street will be closed all afternoon and evening. Traffic tie-ups and delays can be expected. It will be a good occasion to take a stroll and see the myriad models of this uniquely American vehicle.

Saturday and Sunday’s focus will be on Cooper’s Lake Campground, with plenty of exhibits and activities geared to entertain the Jeep owners and spectators alike.

The BRC replica will be featured in a Jeep history exhibit. Jeep company representatives will be on hand to discuss new developments in the latest models. Off-road trails will test all levels of skill and endurance.

The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival attracts more visitors from outside the state than any other event in Butler County. Visitors from 33 states and two Canadian provinces are registered.

“Jeep owners are now making the trip to Butler a yearly tradition with their families and they are coming from more states than ever before,” says Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.

“Invasion” is an fitting name for the Butler segment of this annual event — as it would be for any homecoming celebration. It’s a celebration of our heritage and a salute to our city’s contribution not only to the national victory in World War II, but also to a significant and enduring bit of our culture.

It’s a bit of inconvenience, true. But it’s also an honor and a privilege to host this prominent annual event.

Welcome, Jeepers.