Teddy Adventures at the Thackray Museum!

On Thursday 12th and Friday 13th of August, the Thackray Museum held its third annual Teddy Bear Festival, and opened its doors to a record breaking 1101 teddy bears and their owners, who all came to take part in our 2010 Teddy Bear Festival.

The museum was full of children (both young and not so young!) and their furry companions running round and eagerly following our Teddy Trail, as well as enjoying face painting, where’s the bear competition, teddy bear crafts and more. There were even special appearances from none other than Paddington Bear himself! 

Paddington is the fundraising mascot of our partners for the event, leading UK medical charity Action Medical Research. The charity supported the festival with a Paddington shop. Action Medical Research is a national charity which has helped fund medical breakthroughs for over 50 years. The charity’s successes include helping to develop the UK polio vaccine, ultrasound scanning in pregnancy and hip replacement surgery.

Also present at the event were The National Blood Service, who supported the event by informing people about giving blood, signing people up to the blood donor register and giving out National Blood Service goodies. The National Blood Service was formed to collect and provide blood supplies for all the hospitals in England and North Wales.

Having fun with guests were Fairy Wanda and Pixie-stix of Make-a-Wish Entertainment, who conjured up an enchanted forest where children and their bears took part in exciting adventures! Visitors could make their very own teddy bears, and carry out a Teddy Medical at the Teddy Hospital to earn their furry friend a certificate of bravery.

The Thackray Museum would like to thank everyone who came to enjoy the festival, and hope to see you again next year!