Jeeps take over downtown Butler as part of weekend festival
It started with one. Then two. Before long, Butler’s Main Street had been fully taken over.
Thousands of Jeeps from near and far descended upon the City of Butler on Friday, June 13, as part of the 14th annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival’s Jeep Invasion.
Hundreds of Jeeps parked down Main Street to let people see them and chat with the owners.
Jeep owners are known to have formed their own culture around their vehicles. There is a special “Jeep Wave” that owners are known to do as they pass each other, much like motorcycle riders do to acknowledge each other on the road. And, of course, there is the tradition of “Jeep Ducking,” a trend that started just after the pandemic with a woman who decided to leave a little rubber ducky on a Jeep door just to brighten someone’s day. She shared the idea on social media with the hashtag #DuckDuckJeep and it took off.
It’s no surprise that Jeep owners came from miles around to enjoy each other’s company in Butler this weekend.
Jeeps found along the street ranged in many colors, makes, models and years, with some customized and some not. Owners stood by their Jeeps or walked up and down the street to look at others.
At different spots, DJs and food vendors lined the sidewalk of Main Street. Businesses kept their doors open to catch some extra business.
Lynsy Simpson, of Breezewood, attended the event last year, but did not sign up to have her Jeep on display. This year, she sat near her Jeep as passersby asked her questions and left rubber ducks on its hood.
She said her Jeep, which was highly customized, was a labor of love. Her Jeep was painted a special pink color and featured leopard print as part of the decorations. She worked with her husband to personally do the customization work.
“It took me until I was 40 years old, but she’s my dream Jeep,” Simpson said. “We have a body shop in Breezewood, so I got to pick the custom color and all of the extras.”
She said she likes going mudding, but wants to maintain her feminine side.
“I was a little girl at one time and loved Barbie,” Simpson said. “I’m a girlie girl. I like pink and leopard and we like to get muddy and have fun.”
Simpson explained why she and her husband made the trip across nearly half of Pennsylvania to attend.
“It’s a hobby, and it’s an escape from life,” Simpson said.
Jim Reed, of West Virginia, has a purple “Barney the Dinosaur” themed Jeep for his granddaughter. He made a two and a half hour trip to Butler to participate for his third year.
“I came to go Jeeping, and for her,” Reed said while pointing to his granddaughter. “She wanted (the Jeep) to be pink, but I told her I needed to drive it too.”
Jeep Invasion is just one of the events that make up the three-day Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
The event continues Saturday, with several Bantam driving activities taking place, including Bantam Boot Camp at Bantam Quarry at Kildoo, Bantam Safari at Keystone Safari, several Jeep-driving challenges and a poker run, which takes place throughout the day Saturday.
The festival stretches into Sunday, with a Bantam blessing by the Christian Jeep Association, and final Jeep competition awards will be announced, including for the Jeep Team Challenge.
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Cash Thomas, four-months rides in a stroller pulled by his dad Michael Thomas during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Ducks decorate the inside of a Jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Avery Helfer, 3, pretends to drive a jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Large crowds of people walked up and down Main Street in Butler to look at various versions of Jeeps during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Cash Thomas, four-months rides in a stroller pulled by his dad Michael Thomas during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Henry Sedgwick rides a toy Jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Calder Hefferan, 11, leaves a duck on a Jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Tristan Wtorkiewiecz eats ribs on top of a Jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Large crowds of people walked up and down Main Street in Butler to look at various versions of Jeeps during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Large crowds of people walked up and down Main Street in Butler to look at various versions of Jeeps during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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An older example of a Jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Austin Cilia, center, throws out small ducks to children as he stands on top of a Jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Large crowds of people walked up and down Main Street in Butler to look at various versions of Jeeps during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Scott Bassett looks at a Jeep engine during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Ducks decorate the inside of a Jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Avery Helfer, 3, pretends to drive a jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Lena Southworth from the Butler County Suicide Coalition hands out ducks during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Avery Helfer, 3, pretends to drive a jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Avery Helfer, 3, pretends to drive a jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Avery Helfer, 3, pretends to drive a jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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David Hoffman hugs a new duck he received during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Henry Sedgwick rides a toy Jeep as Daniel Sedgwick drives during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Austin Cilia, center, throws out small ducks to children as he stands on top of a Jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Avery Helfer, 3, pretends to drive a jeep during the annual Jeep Invasion festival on Main Street in Downtown Butler on Friday, June 13, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Aerial photos taken during the Jeep Invasion of Downtown Butler on June 13, 2025. Gricel/Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Aerial photos taken during the Jeep Invasion of Downtown Butler on June 13, 2025. Gricel/Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Aerial photos taken during the Jeep Invasion of Downtown Butler on June 13, 2025. Gricel/Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Aerial photos taken during the Jeep Invasion of Downtown Butler on June 13, 2025. Gricel/Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Aerial photos taken during the Jeep Invasion of Downtown Butler on June 13, 2025. Gricel/Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Aerial photos taken during the Jeep Invasion of Downtown Butler on June 13, 2025. Gricel/Hernandez/Butler Eagle
