Barton under Needwood Family Festival.

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September 2023
from 12noon till 4pm

The countdown is on to our Festival weekend when brave teddies will be flying through the air on our exciting Teddy Rides!

There will be six rides set up in the grounds of St James’ Church in Main Street. The popular Teddy Passport Office will be back again – so teddies will need to be looking their best for that all-important photo!  

Fearless teddies can aim high on the Teddy Skywire, plunge into the smoky depths of the Oblivion ride, earn their pilot’s wings on the Top Gun Ted and Target Ted rides and get in nautical mood for Boat a Bear. And we’re bringing back Teddy Hi-Wire too – the perfect ride for well-balanced bears…. and fans of the Teddy Bears’ Picnic song!  

The rides will run from 12noon to 4pm on both days and the Teddy Passports will cost £6. Remember to choose a teddy bear or soft toy that will fit in the rides. We recommend a maximum height of 35cm.  

It’s looking like a weekend of non-stop fun with lots more for teddies and their families to enjoy! Pupils at the Thomas Russell Infants and Junior schools have already been busy making colourful bunting – check out their great artwork.  

Last year was a record-breaker for the scarecrow competition – so watch out for more great entries this year – all trying to win your vote and a coveted gold medal.  

Other attractions will include visitors from a galaxy far, far away… and, more down to earth, a fire engine (provided it’s not needed for an emergency), Morris dancers, candy floss, popcorn, tea tent, and lots more.  

Teddies can even try building sandcastles at the Teddies at the Seaside event organised by Barton Bowls Club on Dunstall Road.  

And there’s FREE parking at the John Taylor High School in Dunstall Road.

Teddies can get in the Festival mood with a Teddy Sleepover at Barton Library on Friday, 1st September. Bring your teddies to the library between 2pm and 5pm then collect them on Saturday morning ready for the rides.  

And finally – a big thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors without whose help this event wouldn’t happen.

Here’s what you will find in and around St James’ Church and Main Street:

• Fire Engine
• Morris Dancers (Saturday only)
• Scarecrows
• Garden Show (Saturday only)
• Tea tent
• Fiddle Folk
• Ice cream
• Candy Floss
• Popcorn
• Bellringing
• Art and craft
  Art displays by Barton Art group, Evelyn Tipper and Jill Rogers plus beautiful quilts by Patch from Scratch and Current BUN Quilters.
• Music in church
  Organists Duncan Moon (Saturday) and Angela Sones (Sunday). Also Jean-Marc Revill on saxophone and Kathy Palmer on Northumbrian small pipes.  
• Bellringing
  12.20pm and 2pm each day – watch the bells in action on the big screen in church.
• Stalls
  Including Mug Tug, Beekeepers, Barton Scouts, Barton Lions, WI and Village Hall    
• Teddies at the Seaside
  At Barton Bowls and Social Club with sand and, hopefully, sun. There’ll be an ‘International Visa’ for this in the Teddy Passport! Enjoy the teddy sandpit, bouncy castle, teddy tombola and more.    
• Teddy Bear Service
  In St James’ Church, Sunday 3rd September at 10.30am with Rev Andy Simpson. Please come and bring your teddies. If you don’t have a teddy with you, there will a supply of teddies waiting for a carer so they can join in the service!