After a four-year hiatus, a popular Winnipeg event is back on track. 

Typically held in the spring, the 35th annual Teddy Bears' Picnic will return to Assiniboine Park this fall. 

"It's exciting to bring back the Teddy Bears' Picnic," said Stefano Grande, president and CEO of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. "Unfortunately, when COVID hit, these wonderful events in our communities were shut down, and it's taken a while for our healthcare workers to grab a bit of air and come up from the incredible work that they've been doing over the last three or four years in protecting and serving our kids."

This year's event will feature family favourites, like the Dr. Goodbear Clinic put on by frontline staff, where kids’ teddy bears are triaged and go through a variety of medical tests and treatments including MRIs, X-rays, casting; and the I Want to be a Scientist tent put on by Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba with experiments and engaging child-friendly activities.

There will also be entertainment on the Lyric stage, crafts for kids and plenty of food trucks. 

Grande says the Teddy Bears' Picnic would not be possible without the doctors, nurses, researchers and frontline medical staff who give of their time, or without the many sponsors and volunteers involved. 

"Volunteers are essential to everything we do that day," said Grande. "Not only manning the tents but also providing extra eyes, ears and safety for attendees."

Although plenty of people have already stepped up to help with the event, the foundation could still use more support to make the event a success.

 Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or volunteer can visit the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba website.

The 35th annual Teddy Bears' Picnic, presented by Humphrey Window and Door Systems, will take place Sunday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., with a special pancake breakfast served by IHOP at 9:30 a.m.