The Burgess Hill Teddy Bears Picnic returns for 2024
Join us for the return of The Burgess Hill Teddy Bears Picnic on Monday 1st July. Running from 11.30am-2pm, in St John’s Park there will be plenty to keep the little ones busy, with all the activities aimed at preschoolers!
The event is FREE to attend, with a small number of stalls offering additional activities at a cost. So, bring a picnic, some pocket money and your teddy bear too. We can’t wait to see you!
Free activities on the day will include;
• A dinosaur inflatable and ball pit, supplied by Brighton Bouncy Castles
• Play ‘guess how many ducks in the jar’ game with Crest Swim School, or grab a free colouring sheet
• Check out the fire engine from Burgess Hill Fire Station (subject to emergency call outs)
• Practice your football skills with Little Kickers and find out about local classes for preschoolers
• Chat to Bright Horizons Burgess Hill Day nursery about your childcare needs and check out their messy play
• The Kings Church will be bringing play equipment and crafts, as well as leading parachute song time
• Join in the sing-alongs and find out about local sessions with Westend Wigglers
• Have a chat with West Sussex County Council Early Years and Childcare Team, whilst the children play
• Visit Plaster2paint’s stall to have a go at a free craft
• Have a climb on the soft play equipment by The Triangle and enter their colouring competition
• Find out about services Burgess Hill library offers, and join in with rhyme time or the sensory story
• Check out Rainbow Tots at St Edwards’ variety of sensory activities
• Meet the year six students from London Meed and have a go at their activities
• Grab a colouring sheet from the HAF team and have a chat about their holiday activities and food programme
• Join the story time sessions with Gobbledy Books, enjoy their reading area and colouring sheets
• Play in Building Hope’s sensory trays and find out about the charity
• And Jump on the mini locomotive and enjoy a free ride on the model railway, with Mid Sussex Model Engineering Club
There will be a handful of ‘pocket money’ activities too including;
• Pay 50p to play ‘pick the lucky duck’ for a chance to win swimming lessons with Crest Swim School
• Help Time 4 Children raise funds for the charity with their games, 50p-£1 a go
• Check out the arts and crafts sale from Plaster2paint
• Or buy a £2.50 book at Gobbledy Books book sale
• Lastly, if you are in need of cold refreshments, a coffee or cake then Park View Kiosk will be open with a selection of goodies to purchase, or grab an ice cream from the ice cream truck!
The Lions mascot will be around for photographs during the day too, see if you can spot him!
The Burgess Hill Teddy Bears Picnic is kindly sponsored by Burgess Hill District Lions and co-organized by Burgess Hill Town Council, The King’s Church and Central Sussex Rotary.
Timetable of sessions
Everything will run from 11.30am-2pm except the below sessions which will run as listed;
Burgess Hill Library rhyme time at 11.40 & 1.20 and sensory story at 12.30 (20-minute sessions)
The King Church parachute song time at 12, 12.40 & 1.20 (15-minute sessions)
Westend Wigglers singalongs at 11.50, 12.30, 1.10 & 1.50 (10-minute sessions)
Gobbledy Books story times at 12, 12.50, & 1.30 (20-minute sessions)
All sessions will be held at the individual stalls so just head over before the start times to join in!
You can sign up to the mailing list via our website here;
Burgess Hill Teddy Bears Picnic 2023!
On Monday 10 July, Burgess Hill Town Council – alongside The King’s Church and Central Sussex Rotary – delivered The Burgess Hill Teddy Bears Picnic in St John’s Park. With a whole range of activities for babies and pre-schoolers to get involved with, the turnout was amazing, and this year the rain even held out for the whole event!
There was a mix of businesses and community groups providing free activities on the day, including painting with Plaster2Paint, cupcake decorating by Christmas Wishes, and singing sessions led by Westend Wigglers. Soft play was provided by the Triangle Leisure Centre, and Burgess Hill Library brought their ever-popular rhyme and story sessions to the park. There was a football area run by Little Kickers, a parachute song time led by The King’s Church, as well as craft activities. Mrs H provided face painting, and West Sussex County Council’s Early Years team had a stall with sensory toy for kids, and information for parents. Gobbledy Books, Perfect Start Nurseries, Dickerhouse PTA, Crest Swim School, and Birchwood Grove PTA also joined the fun with stalls and activities!
The Burgess Hill District Lions kindly funded the event, allowing the children to use the inflatable play park and circus equipment free of charge. The Lions mascot joined in with the fun and even had a dance with Westend Wigglers!
Town Mayor Janice Henwood said: “This was one day when the sunshine was welcomed, dry grass and picnics in the park. Lovely to see the families and young children enjoying all the activities. Thanks to all the organizations who came along and provided music, games and activities to suit all ages!!”
John Carter, President of The Burgess Hill District Lions, who funded the event said: “The Teddy Bears Picnic is always such a happy event, enjoyed by the children and parents alike. I always look forward to attending this event and always come home with a smile on my face.”
Co-organizer Angie Bee, Children and Families Team Leader at The King’s Church Mid-Sussex said: “Taking part in The Burgess Hill Teddy Bears Picnic is always a highlight of our year. It is so much fun to work with Burgess Hill Town Council and other organisations in the community to put smiles on the faces of preschool children and their families! We relocated our Monday Noah’s Ark parent and carer group resources to St. John’s Park, especially, to join in with the fabulous time!”
Co-organizer Julie Smyth, from Central Sussex Rotary said: “We had a great time at The Teddy Bear’s Picnic and are pleased to work in partnership with Burgess Hill Town Council, The King’s Church and Burgess Hill District Lions. Seeing young families enjoying the activities and meeting up with friends and family it was evident that everyone was having a good time.”
Keep up to date with events organised by Burgess Hill Town Council, including the date for the Teddy Bears Picnic in 2024 by signing up to the mailing list in here
Teddy Bears Poster
Below are some photographs from previous Teddy Bears Events
Teddy Bears Picnic 2022
Teddy Bears Picnic 2022