Children enjoy crafts during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Children, along with their stuffed animals, parents and grandparents, enjoyed games, crafts, soap bubbles and more June 24 during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s annual Teddy Bear Picnic.
The event, held on the grounds of the McFadden-Ross House, included a bouncy house, lawn games, a bubble machine, face painting and a chance to go indoors to work on colorful crafts.
Rooty, the A&W Rootbeer Bear, greeted guests. Free popcorn was available, along with snow cones, cookies and water bottles for sale.
Yard games and a bouncy house were welcome attractions during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
Volunteer Marge Moncrief was on hand to perform teddy bear first aid, with needle and thread at the ready.
“When you fix it, and it looks like brand new, or repaired at least, that kid is like, ‘OK. You did a good job,’” she said. “They are a little bit shy sometimes, because it is a new experience for them, but you just have to make them comfortable and reassure them that you are here to help them.”
Moncrief said the Teddy Bear Picnic is a good family event.
“The museum is offering them an opportunity for an activity that’s safe and helps the kids learn about the museum,” she said. “They feel that it’s a good place to come, and we have as many grownups as we have kids.”
Volunteer Marge Montrief provides stuffed animal first aid during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
Moncrief said the October Halloween party is another family-friendly event.
Dearborn Historical Museum officer manager Hanna Elayan, who planned the Teddy Bear Picnic, said she wanted to create an activity day for families, where adults could interact with their children.
“We have a bunch of great lawn games this year, a snow cone machine and a bounce house,” she said. “And A&W – some things never change. I am happy that I am able to provide such a fun and bonding experience.”
The event culminated with a parade around the grounds, followed by prizes awarded for the largest, fuzziest, most-loved, best-dressed and most colorful bears, adjudicated by state Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-15th District) and City Councilmember Leslie Herrick.
State Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-15th District) and Dearborn City Councilmember Leslie Herrick, teddy bear contest judges, along with the winners, pose during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
Children parade around the grounds with their teddy bears during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
Children enjoy the bubble station during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
A girl enjoys the bubble station during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
Carrie Kushnir (left) and her daughter Nadia parade around the grounds with her teddy bear during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
Museum staff and volunteers offer free popcorn, as well as snow cones, cookies and water bottles for purchase, during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.
Rooty the A&W Bear greets guests during the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Teddy Bear Picnic June 24 at the McFadden-Ross House.