Summerdaze family fun at the Teddy Bears Picnic

Make a day of it and bring your family along to the Teddy Bears Picnic, held on 28 and 29 January from 11.00am-2.00pm at Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) venues Queenstown Event Centre and Wānaka Recreation Centre respectively.

QLDC Wellbeing Programmes Coordinator Sam Saccomanno said it will be another great way for families to come together and round off the summer holidays before the school term kicks back into gear.

“There’ll be heaps of fun for kids of all ages, with everything from story-telling, bouncy castles, live music, youth bands, dance performances, face painting, a free sausage sizzle, food vendors, life sized bears, sports and games”, Ms Saccomanno said.

“So bring your favourite cuddly toy, pack a picnic and come on down. It’s free to attend with koha donations to Plunket welcomed.”

There is also another great opportunity to join Stride, Ride and Slide, Sport Central's mini triathlon event for BIG little kids, which takes place just prior to the Teddy Bears Picnic at the same venues. Budding athletes aged between two and six years run, bike and slide around a short age-appropriate course.

“Grab your pre-race tickets online with Sport Otago for $5 per child to be in to win spot prizes. Don’t forget your togs and wheels, and to be at the start line at 10.00am!”, she said.

Ms Saccomanno recently joined QLDC to coordinate the Summerdaze programme and encouraged locals to lookout for Council’s Summerdaze pop-ups, packed with games to enjoy at parks around the district over the coming months.

“There’s no better way to spend your lunchbreak and improve your wellbeing! Grab a workmate or get a crew together and challenge others to a game of cornhole, badminton, kubb, spikeball and more!”, she said.

“You can also have a yarn with our friendly library team about their free online resources, borrow a book to read in the sun or keep your garden growing with the popular seed swap”, she added.

More details on the pop-ups can be found on the QLDC Sport & Recreation Facebook page @QLDCSportRec or by visiting qldc.govt.nz/summerdaze.

ENDS|KUA MUTU.

Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri:

• Details of the full Summerdaze programme and Summerdaze-endorsed events can be found on the QLDC website qldc.govt.nz/summerdaze

• The Stride, Ride and Slide event will be in Queenstown from 10.00am-11.00am on Saturday 28 January @ Queenstown Event Centre and in Wānaka from 10.00am-11.00am on Sunday 29 January @ Wānaka Recreation Centre

• Online presale tickets for Stride, Ride and Slide will be available to purchase for $5 which enters participants into a draw for special prizes or enter on the day for $8.

• For more information on Summerdaze Stride, ride and slide including race times and how to enter go to www.sportotago.co.nz