This year’s Manchester Picnic saw more than 15,000 people head to Piccadilly Gardens to enjoy the event. The picnic was organised by CityCo and Piccadilly Partnership to bring more free family-friendly activities to the city centre.

Despite the rain, hundreds of children came down to Piccadilly Gardens clutching their dressed-up bears for Sunday’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic in Piccadilly Gardens. One hundred Build a Bear Workshop goodie bags, given to the first children that arrived, were snapped up in the first half hour.

The free family fun included a guest appearance from Twinkle the Bear, who did Baby Ballet classes all afternoon.

There was also the best-dressed bear competition judged by Twinkle the Bear. The winner, Antonia Dow, from Bramhall near Stockport, who is four years old next week, won a 5 person family tent from Go Outdoors worth £170 plus a selection of family camping games. Her bear was dressed hippy style, complete with guitar.

The Teddy Bear’s Picnic was the closing event for this year’s Manchester Picnic Weekend which saw more than 15,000 people picnic in Piccadilly Gardens.

There were speciality market stalls from well-known Manchester restaurateurs including Harvey Nichols, Abode Hotel, Aumbry, The Mark Addy and Mint Hotel. Also DoodleLove sold handmade cards and gifts and Spa Satori offered mini manicures for Mums. Forever Manchester was the chosen charity for this event.

Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic is as much about the adults having fun as it is about entertaining the children. There was a great turn-out again this year and Piccadilly Gardens played host to one of the biggest family-friendly city centre events this summer.”

Alexandra King, Piccadilly Partnership Director said: “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic was extremely popular again this year and was the main focus of our Sunday activity. It was amazing to see more than 15, 000 people of all ages enjoy the picnic despite the weather. People really appreciated having free family-friendly activities in the city centre and we’re committed to bringing more events like this to Piccadilly Gardens in the future.”

View images of this year’s event

With thanks to Karen Wright Photography