Portage la Prairie families and their cherished stuffed companions filled the air with laughter this past Wednesday evening as the Portage Family Resource Centre hosted its bustling 4th Annual Teddy Bear Picnic.
A record crowd of 97 parents and children enjoyed themed activities, stories, and songs under the summer sky.
Programming Director Peter Thiessen highlights the event's growing momentum.
"Super excited to bring back the teddy bear picnic," Thiessen says, "This is our 4th annual one, and I love it when you get to this point in an event because people know what's happening and they kind of look forward to it. You can kind of build on momentum that way. It's sometimes hard to get something new started, but I was so excited to see people starting to gather even before the official start time."
Teddy tune-ups and crafty fun
Children explored numerous engaging stations during the first hour.
"We have a bunch of different booths," Thiessen explains. "There are teddy bear games, there are teddy bear-themed crafts. There's a washing station where you can give your stuffed animal a bit of a tune-up, polish-up for presentation, and look their best. We have a medic station where we have some amazing volunteer seamstresses who will come and repair bears who have gotten a little bit of wear and tear."
The Portage District Library offered a cozy story nook with blankets and books, while Brightside Dental Care promoted healthy habits for both children and their plush pals.
Songs, stories, and Puppet Peter
The event culminated in a lively group gathering featuring music led by Thiessen and stories read by library staff member Justine. A special highlight was, of course, the appearance of "Puppet Peter," a local superstar of the family resource centre.
Thiessen expresses deep appreciation for the turnout, noting, "I am super excited about the support of families for our programs like this. It's always awesome to see people come together."
Little voices, big smiles
The picnic's joy was best captured by its youngest attendees. Four-year-old Eli, enjoying games with his beloved stuffed puppy named "Scruffy," simply declared his experience: "Good," adding that his favourite activities were "Playing some games, and playing with the ball."
His friend, four-year-old Kai, was emphatic about his favourite activity.
"That's my favourite thing," he said of the parachute game.
Explaining why, Kai noted, "You get to throw your stuffy down," in reference to the kids throwing their stuffies onto the parachute and bouncing them around.
He also proudly introduced his own companion, clarifying its species very precisely, "Yeah, he's a koala. It's not a bear, it's a marsupial."
When asked about his overall fun level, Kai summed it up perfectly, and in the simplest of terms: "A lot."
The overwhelming success of the 4th annual picnic promises more cuddly celebrations for Portage families in the future.
