The Arlington Public Library is happy to announce Teddy Bear Weekend (formerly known as Teddy Bear Carnival) will now take place on May 8 and May 9! Stuffed animals and their favorite children, it’s time to get ready for a weekend of early literacy fun from home. The Library will offer a couple of fun virtual and safe in-person activities that families and their favorite teddy (or other stuffed friend) can take part in.

To kick off this festivity, enjoy a Virtual Teddy Bear Storytime on Friday, May 8 through the Library’s Facebook page. Enjoy an amusing teddy bear theme storytime with children’s librarian Mrs. Dawn and some of her teddy bear friends. Virtual storytimes are a great way to encourage children’s early literacy skills like singing and talking.

After the storytime, families are encouraged to have a Teddy Bear Sleepover with their best stuffed friend at your home. Below are a couple of suggestions for families to hold their own cozy sleepovers at home:

• Play peek-a-boo or hide and seek
• Build with blocks
• Set-up a fort and cuddle inside
• Have an indoor picnic
• Read or tell a bedtime story
• Kiss your stuffed friend goodnight

Please share photos of this fun night! Tag the @arlingtontxlib on social media for the chance to be featured in Teddy Bear Weekend posts.

On Saturday, May 9 join the Library for our drive-through Teddy Bear Parade at the Southwest Branch, 3311 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, TX 76017 from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Bring your stuffed friend to experience a couple of fun stops in the car:

• Station 1: Bubbles
• Station 2: Wave with teddy bear friends
• Station 3: Receive a curbside craft and teddy bear library card to take home.

Watching the Virtual Teddy Bear Storytime is not required to take part in our Teddy Bear Parade, but it adds to the fun! In the meantime, enjoy early literacy activities from home with our other digital storytimes, available online anytime.