The community is being invited to attend the fourth annual Teddy Bear Picnic at the Stedman Community Hospice gardens on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Organizer Patty Sager said the rain or shine event will feature a host of fun activities for families of all ages.
From face painting to balloon animals, inflatables and a magic show, there will be plenty planned to keep youngsters entertained throughout the afternoon.
“We’re going to have all sorts of activities like potato sack races, tug of war and a scavenger hunt,” she said. “There’s going to be entertainment, food and ice cream trucks, inflatables, vendors and community groups. We’re also going to be joined by Doug ‘the Great’ Hunt, Brantford Bulldogs mascot Bruiser, Lightning McQueen, and we also have some Ohsweken race cars coming too, so there’s going to be a lot of things to do for everybody. We’re even going to have a mini pony and mini donkey there, so we’re really excited.”
Of course, everyone in attendance is encouraged to bring their beloved companions along for the fun. Teddies in need of a checkup can also stop by the first-aid station located on site.
“There’ll be a fire truck and an ambulance where kids can bring their bears, and they will do first-aid and what not on the teddies,” added Sager. “We usually have some counselling booths that will be available to talk to the bears and make sure they’re doing okay, too.”
The organizer said that while the event is free to attend, donations will be accepted in support of children’s programming at Stedman.
“One hundred per cent of the funds raised through this event goes towards a program we’ve created called Tender Hearts. What that does is it provides programming for children’s activities, as well as for bears that have the heartbeat of a loved one family members have lost,” Sager explained. “The funds also go towards teaching and providing awareness of the hospice, the programs it offers, and about end-of-life care. The hospice doesn’t get government funding for any of those things, and so that’s something that we do through this event.”
Inspired by her own experience with the Stedman Community Hospice, Sager said she’s looking forward to once again welcoming the community back to the event.
“This is an event that hits close to home for me. We created it and have helped run it because of my husband’s family and so it’s something that I look forward to every year,” she said. “I love the fact that it’s getting bigger each year. More people are excited about and are getting involved, which is amazing. It’s just a light-hearted, fun event, so I hope everyone can stop by and enjoy the afternoon.”
For those interested in attending the teddy bear picnic, the event will be held at Stedman Community Hospice gardens on Sunday, October 4, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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.
