“Beary” exciting picnic this weekend

Winnipeg, MB (September 3, 2024) – Pack a picnic and your favourite stuffy – Teddy Bears’ Picnic by Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is back this weekend! The event, presented by Humphrey Window and Door Systems, is on Sunday, September 8 at Assiniboine Park from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic is a Manitoba tradition started in 1987 and this year is celebrating its 35^th anniversary, after a “paws” due to the worldwide pandemic. It’s an exciting day of family fun that provides kids with a developmentally appropriate understanding of what may occur in a hospital or research environment. Since it began, the event has welcomed over one million children and their bears to help them feel comfortable in health care settings.

“The Teddy Bears’ Picnic is beloved by so many generations of Manitoba families, and we’re thrilled to be celebrating the 35th event,” Scott McDonald, Chair, Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

“We’re bringing back everything our community loves about Picnic, including kid-friendly education on important topics such as health and safety delivered in a fun and approachable way, and planning new features to keep families engaged.”

35^th annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic features:

• Over 20 tents with fun activities for kids and caregivers to enjoy.
• Dr. Goodbear Clinic, where kids’ teddy bears are triaged and go through a variety of medical tests and treatments including MRIs, X-rays, casting and more.
• I Want to be a Scientist tent, put on by Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, with experiments and engaging child-friendly activities.
• Online 50/50 on now for a chance to win big and give back. The winner will be drawn live at the end of Picnic, but as this is an online raffle, buyers do not need to be present to win. Every ticket sold helps kids in Manitoba’s only children’s hospital.
  Tickets available now at goodbear.ca/5050.  
• Main stage, generously sponsored by Endless Events, with performances from 10 am – 4 pm including Inuit Throat Singing, Legacy Baton Academy + Winnipeg Tempo Twirlers, follow-along yoga, LuLu and the TomCat, fiddler Nic Messner, Magician Mr. Ken, School of Rock, Aboriginal School of Dance and KickitDance Studio.
• Kids’ activities like GellyBall, facepainting, special character visits, crafts, pictures with Dr. Goodbear, Teddy’s ball pit and more.

Plan your day:

• Entertainment and activity tents are free for families to enjoy.
• Teddy Bears’ Pancake Breakfast by IHOP runs from 9:30 am to 11:00 am and is $5 per breakfast. Cash, credit and debit accepted.
• Food options include local food trucks and the Assiniboine Park snack shack. Cash, credit and debit accepted or pack your own lunch and a blanket or chairs.
• Dr. Goodbear merchandise available at the Dr. Goodbear Store including stuffies, bear ears, pins and socks. Cash, credit and debit accepted. Proceeds help kids in hospital.
• Information tents will hand out site maps with descriptions and locations for all activities and tents.
• Park and ride locations include:
  • RBC Advice Centre at 1260 Taylor Ave
  • St. Paul’s High School at 2200 Grant Ave. and Shaftesbury High School at 2240 Grant Ave.
  • The Assiniboine Park Trolley will also be running on a loop within Assiniboine Park starting at 10:00 am.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic is made possible by over 1,000 volunteers dedicating their time and talent to plan, set up and run the event. Roles include facepainting, tent setup, crafts, information booths, stage management, and so much more. The Dr. Goodbear Clinic and I Want to Be a Scientist are hosted entirely by frontline staff with real health care experience.

“The Foundation and board are so grateful for generous community leaders, supporters, and volunteers who make Teddy Bears’ Picnic possible,” says Stefano Grande, President & CEO, Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“We know  kids and families make meaningful memories at this beloved community event and are so thrilled to be welcoming it back.”

The Foundation is also thankful for generous sponsors who help keep Teddy Bears’ Picnic programming free for Manitoba families.

Proceeds from Teddy Bears’ Picnic help kids who rely on Manitoba’s only children’s hospital and go towards critical equipment, life-changing research, and programs that bring comfort to kids and families.  

Learn more and plan your day at goodbear.ca/TeddyBearsPicnic.