The fifth annual Kiwanis Teddy Bear Picnic will be returning to the Burford Fairgrounds on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
The rain or shine event, which will run from 1 to 3 p.m, is the Kiwanis Club of Paris-Brant’s signature project.
“The Teddy Bear Picnic is geared towards children, as well as their family and friends,” said club president Wendy Eveleigh. “Because our Kiwanis motto is ‘serving the children of the world’ our picnic is always designed to create an environment where kids can play, learn and grow. It’s also free for families to attend so there’s no strain on the pocketbook. Now, we do have a canteen where we’ll be selling snacks like hot dogs, chips and pop, but we try to keep it at a very low cost. Other than that, it’s just a great day for the kids to come and have fun.”
Eveleigh said youngsters will have the chance to participate in several activities and games throughout the afternoon.
“We have some great stations set up for the kids; there’s ‘guess how many jellybeans are in the jar’ and ‘pin the heart on the teddy.’ We have someone who will be there making balloon animals and face painting, we have a seed planting activity, and of course, we’ll have the Barry O’ Show as well,” explained Eveleigh.
The youngsters will also have a chance to play various games as well as different trucks for kids to check out and explore.
Children are encouraged to bring along their favourite stuffed animals for the chance to win a prize for the most creatively dressed teddy bear or treasured companion contest. Simply head over to the Peak Reality tent before 2:00 p.m. and fill out a ballot to enter a draw for a prize.
For those who want to tap into their creativity, the club is also hosting an art contest that can be started at home.
The artwork can be a drawn, coloured or painted teddy bear on a 11” x 8” piece of paper, and should be dropped off at the Kiwanis tent no later than 1:30 p.m. for judging.
The children will be split into two different age groups: up to and including the age of five, and then six to eight, and the winners from each category will get a prize.
Eveleigh said that she and the rest of the club are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the event.
“I just love seeing the smiles on their faces. It’s great to watch them just run around from station to station and have a good time,” she said. “We’ve been planning this since January so we’re super excited for it. We’re all ready to go, we’re just waiting for the day to come.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
