Children from all over Metro Vancouver attend the Teddy Bear Picnic in Coquitlam each year. At the event there are fun activities, music and a parade.
The 2024 event was on June 8th and 9th. Other free events in the Lower Mainland that happen around this time of year include the Shipyards Night Market, Langley Community Day, the Fraser Valley Car Show, Fair in the Square and Italian Day on the Drive. A great free Coquitlam event later in the summer is the World of Love Multicultural Carnival in August.
To learn about other things to do, see our June Calendar of Events. To learn about the Teddy Bear Picnic, continue reading.
The Teddy Bear Picnic & Parade in 2024
The Teddy Bear Picnic & Parade is a free annual event in Coquitlam that’s great for children.
You can watch from the sidewalk as the parade rolls down Pinetree Way from City Hall to Town Centre Park. The parade consists of colourful floats, characters in costumes, and performers like stilt-walkers and musicians.
After the parade in the afternoon, you can hang out at Town Centre Park and take part in various activities. These include puppet shows, gymnastics, some hands-on crafts and more. There are also the main stage performances which include singers, dancers and other entertainment.
The atmosphere and all of the different activities at the event are geared for young children and their families. The Teddy Bear Picnic bills itself as a kid-friendly event and it focuses on giving the young ones a fun time. As the name suggests, everyone is encouraged to bring their teddy bears from home and let them enjoy the festivities as well.
The Picnic & Parade Details
In 2024 the Teddy Bear Picnic happened on Saturday, June 8th, and Sunday, June 9th, at Town Centre Park. There was live entertainment from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on the Saturday and the main festivities ran from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on the Sunday.
Sadly, there was no parade this year. The event’s organizers have stated the parade will be brought back in 2025. The event still included puppet shows, storytelling and other family-friendly things to see and do.
Teddy Bear Picnic Details
The Teddy Bear Picnic took place at Lafarge Lake last year, but it was at Town Centre Park in 2024! The main festival on Sunday, June 9th ran from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission to the event was free.
There is live entertainment on hand at the event. The performance schedule for 2024 was as follows:
Saturday, June 8th, 2024
- 3:00 pm – Mr I, Janina & The Musical Rainbow Students
- 4:00 pm – Music with Marnie & Band
Sunday, June 9th, 2024
- 11:00 am – Mr I & Janina
- 11:10 am – Kung Jaadee
- 11:45 am – Mellado Dance
- 12:40 pm – Mayor Stewart & Council
- 12:50 pm – Mr I & Janina
- 1:00 pm – The Mombop Band
- 2:30 pm – The Great Gordini Magic Show
- 3:00 pm – Yuen’s Martial Arts
- 3:50 pm – Mr I & Janina
Teddy Bear Picnic Parade Details
When the parade returns it might look similar to what it was in 2023. That year the parade started at 10:00 am. Instead of being entirely in the park, the parade started on Burlington Drive which is a couple of blocks southwest of Lafarge Lake. From Burlington, the procession headed up Pine Tree Way.
The parade includes a small number of decorated floats, characters in costume and a few performers. Children and their parents can follow the procession as it makes its way to the park.
Teddy Bear Picnic Video
For an idea of what to expect at the Teddy Bear Picnic, check out the video below. It features scenes from the 2022 event. Future events will likely be comparable.
Other Information
For more information about the Teddy Bear Picnic, visit the Festival Coquitlam website.
To learn more about the area, see our article about the City of Coquitlam.
Other articles that may be of interest include the following: