THUNDER BAY – It wasn’t just the promise of a fun afternoon in the park that motivated Natalie Hebert to want to go to the Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
With her favourite stuffed animal – a unicorn named Chloe – in need of medical attention the five-year-old made sure to stop at the boo boo station, the stuffed animal repair tent where volunteers patched and sewed up the children’s toys to make them as good as new.
“It got a hole,” she said.
But after a couple of minutes, Chloe the unicorn was sporting a band aid and was given a clean bill of health, leaving Natalie and her family free to rejoin the rest of activity at Vickers Park on Tuesday for the 35th annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
While the overcast skies appeared threatening at times, the rain held back to allow the estimated crowd of about 4,000 people take in one of Thunder Bay’s largest gatherings for young children.
Ash Young, the city’s cultural development and events supervisor, said there are many stories of parents who used to attend when they were children bringing their little ones or grandparents coming with a second generation.
“I think it’s the tradition. I think it’s built into the community,” Young said. “It’s a great event for families. You see a lot of parents out and grandparents with their grandchildren.”
In addition to the collection of stuffed animals, families were able to enjoy a number of activities such as live music, face painting, meet and greet and photo opportunity with PJ Masks and a visit with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue firefighters and a tour of a pumper.
Karl Heinicke, with his two granddaughters – one by his side and the other on his shoulders – said the teddy bear parade and the kids getting to interact with other children make the event a must-attend.
“They love it. We’ve been going for the last three or four years,” Heinicke said.
