Last year, Chad Wilkerson and a few other Jeep enthusiasts – known affectionately as “Jeepers” – founded the Hub City Jeep Jam as a family-friendly way to have a day of fun with Jeeps and raise money for the Arc of Southeast Mississippi.
The event continues this year on Nov. 2, with a full day of events for Jeepers and all proceeds going to the Arc, a United Way non-profit organization dedicated to providing community-based services to individuals with mental challenges and their families.
“The first year, it was just Jeeps getting together, people looking at different modifications that they’d done, and trying to get as much money as we could back to the Arc,” said Wilkerson, who serves on the event’s board. “One of our members that’s on our board … her son has a rare disease; he’s probably one of 50 in the whole world that has this disease.
“He’s a member of Arc, and we were like, ‘that’s a perfect charity,’ and Hattiesburg’s a perfect place to have an event like this. I’m a transplant to Hattiesburg, but it’s my home now, and this something that’s grown from the first year to the second year. Eventually it’ll be compared to Jeepin The Coast – it’ll be that destination; that’s our vision.”
The day will start off at 8 a.m. with the Jeep Jam Show n’ Shine, which will be held in the parking lot across from The Lucky Rabbit on Mobile Street in downtown Hattiesburg. Children from the Arc will begin judging Jeeps at 10 a.m., and participants will receive information for the Poker Run and Scavenger Hunt, which will begin at 11 a.m.
“All that judging will be done by the Arc kids, and the trophies are made by the Arc kids,” Wilkerson said. “So it’s something special that they get to give back to the Jeepers, because they’re basically going to get to present that award to the first, second and third-place winners of the Show n’ Shine.”
During the Poker Run and Scavenger Hunt, event sponsors will host poker run locations around Hattiesburg where participants can get their poker cards filled with sponsor stamps. Those who figure out trivia clues can take Jeep selfies at the chosen locations, which they can bring to the Wrap-Up Party event later that evening for a chance at prizes.
“Alison, who’s on the board, she has created some cool scavenger hunt areas throughout Hattiesburg, some historical places,” Wilkerson said. “Some are easy to find and some of them are going to take a little Googling to find, and they have to get their selfie taken with that.”
At 1 p.m., participants will meet up at Lake Serene Grocery on the Evelyn Gandy Parkways for a Jeep Ride & Trails.
The Wrap-Up Party will be held at 5 p.m. at Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar on Hardy Street, with a show featuring lights, halos and interior LEDs. Bar staff will choose their favorite Jeeps while the Arc children hand out the awards for the Jeep Jam Show n’ Shine, and officials will pick winners from the poker hands and scavenger hunt selfies. Additional door prizes and raffles will be awarded throughout the evening.
Registration is required at www.hubcityjeepjam.com, with two available registration packages as well as optional add-ons.
“We’ll cut a check the next day (after the event) to the Arc, and do the big picture with the big check,” Wilkerson said. “Last year I think it was $250 and we had 15 Jeeps.
“This year we’re looking at probably somewhere between 60 and 100 Jeeps, so look how fast it’s grown. And our vision is to take that whole downtown area, and have vendors coming in from all over the United States to show their products to Jeep enthusiasts, and make it a big-time event for Hattiesburg.”
Event sponsors include Hi-Fi Cruisin, Sweet Peppers Deli, Walk-On’s, Smith Bros. Collision, Pine Belt Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Chick-fil-A, MK LED Custom Lighting, Pace Auto Sales and Grand Central Outfitters.
