Many ways to win at festival
There are many ways take home a prize from the Bantam Jeep Festival. Those showing off their Jeeps can grab the wheel and compete for fun and bragging rights.
One way to win is by participating in the Best of Bantam competition, sponsored by Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group, on Saturday, June 11. Participants will register their Jeeps in one of 17 classes pertaining to their vehicle model and will be judged. Winners of different classes and a People’s Choice winner will be named and presented with trophies at 5 p.m. Saturday.
On Saturday and Sunday, participants will be working with their partner during the Jeep Team Challenge to navigate through a specially designed course. This activity is sponsored by Amsoil and coordinated by the East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association. This challenge will land the top five teams plaques and bragging rights.
Are you up for a scavenger hunt on wheels? You came to the right place. On all three days of the festival, a Mystery Road Rally will be underway. This event is sponsored by the American Hospitality Group and Amsoil. Be a part of the action by answering questions on different routes and grab that selfie stick for extra points at the social media component. The Jeeps with the highest total points that are correct will receive first-, second- and third-place plaques.
There will be lots of fun at Lights Bars and Brews on Saturday night. The pouring starts at 6:30 p.m. with drinks from local wineries and breweries. In addition to beverages and lots of colorful, illuminated Jeeps, there will be a competition at 8:30 p.m. Jeeps will show off their aftermarket lights and be judged by vendors on the Most Colorful, Best Use of Lights, and a new category, Out of the Dark (for those that might need more lights). Cash prizes of $150, $125 and $100, and a gift certificate from Quake LED will be awarded. Event sponsors are Quake LED and the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau. Spectators can watch for free.
Put on your best poker face for the Bantam Poker Run, sponsored by the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau and Sheetz. During all three days of the festival, there will be participants visiting six different spots in the area. The best hand will receive a $250 Sheetz gift card and a $100 Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau gift card. One random winner will be drawn from those who turn in their completed Poker Run card. That person will receive a $25 Sheetz gift card.
Even taking a selfie will put you in the running for a prize. Jeepers can find Bantam Selfie Spots throughout the festival by checking the festival map. This event is sponsored by Atturo Tires, 12th Street Embroidery and Oscar Mike Tire Pros. A random winner who follows the prompts and posts on social media will win a $50 gift certificate for festival merchandise.
Are you the Ultimate Jeeper? You have the chance to win over $6,000 in parts and accessories to build your ultimate Jeep. Participants must follow directions and visit the Ultimate Jeeper contest booth to enter. Twenty people will be randomly chosen to participate in the contest finals Sunday afternoon. Finalists will select a key and one will open the prize box to build your Ultimate Jeep. Event sponsors are BF Goodrich, Valley Truck Outfitters, Rock Slide Engineering, Rugged Ridge, Oscar Mike Tire Pros and Quake LED.
The festival has a lot to offer Jeep lovers who are not Jeep owners. There are still many way to win at the festival. These events are also free for spectators.
Join the founder of Duck Duck Jeep, Allison Parliament, at the Duck Dash at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 11, sponsored by Hovis Auto and Truck Supply. Purchase a numbered duck and watch it dash down the wet slip-n-slide down the hill at Cooper’s Lake Campground. First-, second- and third-place ducks will receive $300, $200 and $100 cash prizes, respectively. Tickets can be purchased for $5 at the Jeep Invastion on June 10 or at the festival. Proceeds will benefit the Butler Outdoor Club. Parliament will sign autographs and ducks after the dash where 1,500 ducks will be released.
The Barbee Jeep Race will kick off at 6:30 p.m. June 11. Adults can bring their fastest ride-on Jeep to the festival to race down the hill. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive $300, $200 and $100 cash prizes based on who crosses the finish line the fastest. A Loser’s Dash will give the “losers” one last chance to win $100, and $50 will go to the best costume based on the loudest cheers from the crowd. Registration will open just before race time and a number of ride-on Jeeps are also for sale. Participants can register online in the festival store.
Try your luck at the festival raffle and daily 50/50 where there will be thousands of cash and prizes up for grabs from sponsors and vendors. A 50/50 raffle will be called each day 30 minutes before the festival closes. There also will be one at the Jeep Invasion in downtown Butler on June 10. The 50/50 benefits the festival’s charity partners.
Play bingo by picking up a festival map at the info booth and visiting vendors to get your Bantam Bingo card stamped. Participants who bring their card to the information booth by 1:45 p.m. Sunday, will be entered to win $150, $100 and $75 cash prizes.
Festival participants have a chance at $250 in cash if they have purchased $250 worth of items at vendors, not including food or swap meet vendors. Players are to take their receipts to the information booth and will receive one entry per every $250 spent in a raffle to win $250 cash. Prize will be awarded to one random winner. Winner need not be present at the time of the drawing.
For children attending the festival, there will be a Jeep Kids Rock activity. Painted Jeep-themed rocks will be placed all over Cooper’s Lake. Children will bring the rock they discovered to the information booth to receive a prize.
