The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival is a big event for not only Bantam Jeep enthusiasts but all for Jeep enthusiasts. This is where Jeeps got their start and the birthplace of the first Jeep was actually made in the town where the festival takes place, Butler, PA. If you own a Jeep or you’re restoring a Willys Jeep then you know enthusiasts are part of a large but very tight knit community. This was apparent last month at the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
The number of total registered Jeeps for the activities was slightly over 1,300 and even more impressive, the estimated attendance at the fairgrounds was a whopping total of 35,000! Can you also believe that there were countries like Australia, Iceland, India, and Canada represented at the event as well? I can because it’s at events like this when we can all come together in one area and celebrate a brand that’s so iconic and with numbers like those, I’m not alone in thinking this way. You can see the success of the event just by looking at these pictures that the Diehl Automotive Group posted.
In the month of June, the 12th Annual Willys Jeep Picnic in Lansford, PA. This is another huge event for Jeep enthusiasts, especially Jeep lovers like us. At this event, there were over 50 Jeeps showcased and again, the turn out was incredible. So many people showed up this year to help celebrate Willys Jeeps that they need to move the event to a bigger location.
These two events alone prove that the Jeep community is something that’s important and a community that can get together and share their personal stories about their vehicles. Willys Jeeps and Bantam Jeeps especially have such a rich history behind them and it’s great to see that there are still people out there restoring and enjoying these great vehicles. I can’t think of another community that has such a strong following behind it and I’m happy to be a part of it.
