photo/Libby Williams for the Charleston Parks Conservancy

Charleston Parks Conservancy Hosts Annual Teddy Bear Picnic, Unveils New Book Featuring Parker Bear

The eighth Teddy Bear Picnic on March 5 hosted by the Charleston Parks Conservancy will have a special guest this year: Parker Bear, star of a new book published by the Conservancy. “Here, There and Everywhere with Parker Bear” is a children’s book written by the Conservancy’s volunteer Park Angels and photographed by Charleston photographer Libby Williams.

In the book, Parker Bear heads out on a Charleston parks adventure, visiting 10 city parks before meeting his friends at Hampton Park for the annual Teddy Bear Picnic. Along the way, Parker tends to the vegetables at Magnolia Community Garden in West Ashley, jumps rope with children at St. Julian Devine Community Center, meets a tourist at White Point Garden, buys honey at the Charleston Farmers Market in Marion Square and sails a model boat at Colonial Lake.

The book ends with Parker meeting children and their teddy bears at Hampton Park where they enjoy an afternoon in the park. Parker Bear will be at this year’s Teddy Bear Picnic where families can pick up a pre-ordered signed copy of “Here, There and Everywhere with Parker Bear.” Limited copies will be available for purchase at the picnic.

The annual Teddy Bear Picnic is 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5 in Hampton Park, 30 Mary Murray Drive. Admission and all activities are free.

Enjoy kid-friendly musical entertainment, puppets and hip hop dancing. Dress your bear in his best outfit and join in the bear fashion show. Plus the popular Teddy Care Station is back for “injured” bears needing treatment and well bear checkups. Other activities include face painting, seed planting, cookie decorating, crafts and hula hooping. The afternoon wraps up with a teddy bear parade.

Families are invited to bring a picnic lunch, blankets and chairs to enjoy an afternoon in the park. Food trucks will have food available for purchase.

The event is free but families can pre-register online and pre-order their copy of “Here, There and Everywhere with Parker Bear” to save time at check-in:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teddy-bear-picnic-2017-tickets-31333135251. Books are $12 each or order two books for $20.  

The rain date for the event is Sunday, March 12. For more information, visitwww.charlestonparksconservancy.org.