Lots to do at Jeep festival
Calling all lady Jeepers at Friday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. These women’s only Jeep trail rides are geared toward beginner drivers looking for an introduction to off-roading. An “Introduction to 4-Wheeling” session will be held, as well as a dedicated trail ride and obstacle course. If you have participated in Babes of Bantam before, there is a more advanced event, Bantam Boot Camp Ranked Up, on Thursday.
Bantam Boot Camp starts on Thursday at 1 p.m. Jeepers who have yet to go off-road with their vehicles will get the opportunity to learn off-road basics and try out a few simple obstacles, as well as to learn common terminology, hand symbols and more.
This three-day event will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Participating Jeepers will get the chance to explore the area by checking into different locations before arriving at the final stop, where a dealer will deal a poker hand and the score will be recorded. Prizes will be awarded to the best and worst hands, as well as a prize for one random winner.
This is another three-day event with sessions on at 10:30 a.m. Friday; at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday; and at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. These three-hour trail sessions offer opportunities for stock, modified and “extreme” Jeeps to go off-roading just 4 miles away from Cooper’s Lake Campground.
Become a child again by racing your Ride On Jeep for a chance to win up to $300. This Saturday event, from 7 to 8 p.m., will allow riders to race their toy cars down a slalom-style course. Spectators are also welcome.
Come see if your Jeep is best in its class at Saturday’s Best of Bantam. Participants can register their Jeeps in one of 17 classes. Festivalgoers will vote on their favorite Jeeps. Awards for Class 1, 2 and 3 entries will be given out at 2:30 p.m. Class 4 to 17 awards will be announced at 3 p.m.
Participants can have their Jeeps blessed on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. All proceeds will be made as donations to the Christian Jeep Association, ministers and a musician. Participants also get a souvenir.
About 1,000 Jeeps will descend upon Downtown Butler on Friday night from two staging grounds. Starting at 6 p.m., streets will be shut down to allow visitors to enjoy live music, local vendors and, of course, Jeeps. All preregistered participants will receive a plaque.
The Jeep Playground is back with a new design and some fresh obstacles. Participants can climb their vehicles over dirt, rocks, tires and concrete obstacles; maneuver around poles; and cross over bridges and jersey barriers. The course will be open Friday through Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. Entry is $60 for all three days.
Test your motor skills with the popular Jeep Team Challenge on Saturday and Sunday. A driver and a passenger will have to work together to complete fun obstacles while driving their Jeep slowly through a specially-designed course. Plaques will be awarded to the top five teams.
The Jeep Safari is back. Jeeps with full doors and hardtop roofs are welcome to the Keystone Safari Friday through Sunday for hourlong group safaris. See up to 100 animals from 25 different species up close. Keystone Safari is offering a special Bantam package for participants that includes admission for up to five passengers, two food pails to feed animals and an exclusive stock-friendly driving area.
Friday’s two-and-a-half- to three-hour tour includes the Miller Esker, a glacial feature; a mine runoff restoration area in Moraine State Park; and the Foltz Schoolhouse which was recently restored by volunteers.
Let your Jeep glow at Saturday’s Light Bars & Brews. Jeeps will show off their lights in the festival’s parking area and will be judged by various vendors, though no light companies will be judging to ensure fairness. Judges will vote for the Most Colorful, the Best Use of Lights and Out of the Dark. There also will be a DJ, craft beers, wine and more from Butler County breweries and wineries that will be selling beverages by the glass.\
The Mystery Road Rally scavenger hunt is returning to its original format — using old-fashion paper and pens, based on participant feedback. A driving route will be included in the packet guiding participants along the area’s scenic roads. You will be asked to fill in the blanks with items of interest you will encounter along the way. The hunt can be done any time during the festival, but to be considered for a plaque, it must be completed by 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Prizes will be awarded at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
