Brenda Gough
News Contributor
An entire day dedicated to children and their stuffies takes place in Nanoose Bay July 5.
The Quality Foods annual Teddy Bear Picnic will see hundreds of children with their favourite fuzzy friend gather for a day of fun at Jack Bagley Field.
Kids can load up on some carbs for the energy they will need at a pancake breakfast hosted by the Nanoose Bay Lions at Nanoose Place from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Next up is the Nanoose Days Parade which kicks off at 10:30 a.m. and makes its way from the Nanoose Bay Fire Department to the picnic grounds.
The huge event being organized by Ken Bowerman, manager of Quality Foods’ Qualicum branch said it takes many members of the community to make the event run, from corporate sponsors to more than 100 volunteers manning the various booths.
“The event is so popular there is always a line up from start to finish. Hundreds of kids show up for the picnic each year,” Bowerman stated.
“There are more kids at this event than the children’s sand castle event QF sponsors in Parksville.”
Bowerman started helping with the picnic 15 years ago and said since he has been involved he has seen people who attended years ago when they were kids who are now bringing their little ones.
“It is a unique event that attracts families from all over Vancouver Island as well as the lower mainland.”
The grass field where the event is held will be filled with fun stations including face painting, wagon rides, a dunk tank, teddy tattoo parlour, bouncy castles, pony rides and even a bear clinic where a nurse will have a stitching kit to repair tattered and torn stuffed animals.
There is unique bear-a-chute ride which has a helium air balloon that takes stuffed bears up in the air about 300 feet and brings them back down.
With so much to do it’s certain that at six o’clock their mommies and daddies will take them home to bed because they’re tired little teddy bears.
Every child who attends will receive a passport upon arrival which will grant them a free hotdog, root beer and a slice of cake.
The passport has a section where bear owners can register their stuffed animal and formally record its distinguishing marks as well as the state of its fur quality, stuffing and stitching.
They can also fill out a very official looking bear adoption certificate which has a golden Nanoose Bear Seal.
There will be live local music featuring bluegrass performers for the big kids to enjoy as well as a food concession run by the Nanoose Bay Volunteer Fire Department.
The picnic runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jack Bagley Field which is located at the corner of Northwest Bay Rd. and Powder Point Rd. in Nanoose Bay.
For more information or to volunteer for the event phone the Nanoose Bay Quality Foods at 250-468-7131.