LOOK: Teddy Bear Picnic in Beechwood Park, Newport
There was plenty of entertainment, from face painters, live music, even a very special performance from 10-year-old piano player Harrison Cain Thomas, and a performance from the Empire Dance Crew, as well as DJ Jordan with Skye & Storm the Macaws.
As well as all this, there were multiple cartoon character mascots wandering around the park and stopping for pictures with the children, with Bluey, Pikachu and Stitch all spotted. They even took part in a cartoon characters' disco with the children and their teddies later in the afternoon.
One of the organisers, Sue Selkirk told the Argus: "It's been absolutely rammed this afternoon and we've actually had so many more people turn up than we expected.
"It's been really lovely to see so many people coming out for this picnic and coming together. We feel really lucky as a group to have so many people in our community come out together like this."
The Teddy Bears' Picnic was a free to attend event hosted by Beechwood Park Community Group from 2-5pm on Sunday, June 1 in Beechwood Park, Newport.
Dozens of people turned out for the Teddy Bears' Picnic in Beechwood Park on Sunday (Image: NQ) Pikachu and Stitch were among the cartoon characters out and about (Image: NQ) Tahlia, nearly 6 (Image: NQ) Joshua, 4, with Paddington Bear (Image: NQ) Mika, 2, with his teddy (Image: NQ) Gracie and Aurora, 2 and 3 (Image: NQ) Millie-Rose, 6 (Image: NQ) Eliza, 6 (Image: NQ) Aria, Brooke and Jackson (Image: NQ)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Dawn Steele on the 'daunting' prospect of her Fringe debut
She is about to make her debut appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in a play which will also mark her return to the stage for the first time in more than a decade. Read more: The actress says the chance to appear in the play came at 'the right time,' ahead of her 50th birthday later this year, at a time when she was affected by the downturn in Britain's TV drama industry. It will also realise her growing ambitions to become part of the Fringe after attending numerous shows with friends in recent years and a desire to return to the stage. Dawn Steele will be appearing in the Fringe play Skye at Summerhall. (Image: Supplied) Steele is preparing to play a number of characters in Skye, a chilling family mystery, set on the Hebridean island of the same name 30 years ago. She will be taking centre stage in the debut play by award-winning author and Fringe producer Ellie Keel. Dawn Steele has been most recently seen on screen in the crime drama Granite Harbour. (Image: Newsquest) Steele will be starring opposite fellow Glaswegian James Robinson, who played the young William Wallace in Braveheart, in Skye, part of Summerhall's Fringe theatre programme. The play will be Steele's first stage work since she appeared in the comedy thriller A Perfect Murder, an adaptation of the best-selling Peter James novel, in 2014. Previous roles included the John Byrne plays Cuttin' a Rug and Tutti Frutti, the latter with the National Theatre of Scotland and David Harrower. Speaking to The Herald during a break in rehearsals, Steele said: 'I've not done any theatre for quite a long time. 'It's not really been a choice, but is just the way it's worked out. I'd love to do more theatre, but I just don't get asked. 'I was sent this play by my agent as Ellie, the writer, wanted to hear it read out loud before. She has produced a lot of theatre but this is her first play. 'When I read it, I did think: 'If they ask me to do this, I'm going to have to say yes.' 'In a way, I was scared. I thought 'I hope they don't ask me to do this. It's very wordy, it's a two-hander and I'll be on stage for a whole hour.' 'But I was just really compelled by the script. It felt quite magical to me.' Skye focuses on the main character of Annie and her siblings after they see a ghostly vision of their father on a beach four years after this death. Steele said: 'The play is about an incident that happened on Skye when the children were young, which changes the course of their lives. Annie retells the story with the help of her brother Brawn. 'I don't want to give too much away, but I would say it's a cross between a ghost story and a thriller. 'It's ultimately about memory, how it plays tricks on you, particularly in a family context, and what people hold onto. 'When I read the script I got a real feeling for it and I really loved the character of Annie. I thought she would be a real challenge to play. 'A big part of the appeal is that it's going to be on at the Fringe, which I've been to a lot with friends over the last few years. 'Everything we saw last year was really good. I do remember thinking: 'I would really like to do something here.' When you see really good theatre you want to be up there.' Keel is bringing Skye to the Fringe after producing a number of previous plays at the festival, including Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz and The Last Show Before We Die. She made her name as an author last year with debut novel The Four, about a group of boarding school students bound by a chilling secret. Steele said: 'It feels daunting doing this play because I've not done theatre for a while, but it's not like I've never done theatre before. I've done a lot. "The last two-hander I did was Blackbird, which was pretty daunting. With anything that is a two-hander or a solo show it is pretty exposing. It was also a very challenging play. I remember thinking: 'Oh my god, I'm never going to get through it.' Before I knew it we were touring it around the country. 'The thought of doing new writing at the festival really appealed to me. It's been really interesting and challenging. We've been changing stuff on a daily basis. It's been a bit like doing stuff with John Byrne. The play has changed quite a lot, but for the better. 'I'm so used to TV, where the script is the script, and that is it. Theatre is much more collaborative than TV. There's more of a process. It's not just a case of turning up and doing your lines. 'It feels like this has come into my life at the right time. I'm going to be 50 later this year. It's going to be a real challenge, but I want to be challenged and I'm really prepared to take this on, because I feel I can do it. I'm jumping in head first. 'Were doing the play in a room with 140 seats. I won't have played in front of such a small crowd since I was in my mum and dad's living room. 'All of those things are quite scary, but it's also why I want to do it. It's getting me back into the rehearsal room and doing what I really loved in the first place about acting before I got into TV. I obviously love working in TV, but it is very different. Theatre and TV are two very different beasts." Steele, who has previously starred in Hoby City, Wild at Heart and River City, has been seen on screen most recently in the crime dramas Shetland and Granite Harbour, with filming due to get underway on the next series of the latter shortly after the Fringe. However Steele admitted she jumped at the chance to return to the stage after her quietest ever spell for TV work recently. Steele said: 'I've worked my whole career. I've not stopped. I know I've been really lucky. 'But it's been really quiet recently. A lot of actors are not working at the moment. It is a bit of a buyer's market. People can pick and choose who they want. 'There is less money around. People are being very picky about what is getting made. There is just less getting made and there is less work. It just filters down. 'I'm not doing the play because I was desperate for work. I'm doing it because I really like the play. 'If there isn't a lot of work on the ground, when something comes along that makes me sit up and think 'this is really good' I'd be stupid not to do it.' To purchase tickets for the Fringe, please click here
South Wales Argus
18 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
LOOK: Dozens attend Summer Sessions in Beechwood Park
In partnership with Newport City Radio and Dirty Carrot Records the Summer Sessions music festival returned after a successful debut last summer. The Summer Sessions in Beechwood Park is the highlight of the Summer Holidays entertainment program from the Beechwood Park Community Group. The free to attend music festival featured an eclectic mix of Wales finest talent. The Summer Sessions music festival is a platform for the next generation of Welsh music superstars. The event took place on the Entertainment Area at the top of Beechwood Park. The music festival is funded by Shared Prosperity Funding. Take a look at our gallery of pictures from the event this weekend below. (Image: NQ) Loads of people turned up to enjoy the local talent (Image: NQ) (Image: NQ) Talented guitarist Izzo Wizzard and her band performed (Image: NQ) (Image: NQ) Bryony Sier and Rebecca Richards enjoyed the music (Image: NQ) Mitchell Beardsley (left) and Liam Glover (right) were joined by a friend at the festival (Image: NQ) Sadie, little Romi and Demi enjoyed a fun day at the park (Image: NQ) Georgia, Jasmine, Rupert, Wyatt and Meadow enjoyed slushies at the Summer Sessions (Image: NQ) Three-year-old Charlie and his mum Lauren were looking forward to hearing some great music (Image: NQ) Rhys (left), Lauren, Charlie and Rhys (right) (Image: NQ)
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Newport busy weekend with Summer Sessions and Craft Market
The popular Summer Sessions 2025 is back at Beechwood Park from Friday, July 25, to Sunday, July 27. The free event will see the newly refurbished bandstand filled with music and entertainment for people of all ages. (Image: Supplied) There will be live music and children's entertainment, as well as food vendors and a fully licensed bar. The event is hosted by Beechwood Park Community Group, who have teamed up with Newport City Radio, Dirty Carrot Records, and Gold Tops Studios. More information about the event can be found at On Saturday, July 26, Newport Craft Market will be at Kingsway Centre from 10 am to 5 pm. (Image: Supplied) The market will have more than 20 stalls selling crafts, gifts, food, jewellery, and more. The stalls are filled with items from traders across South Wales, and the market takes place twice a month at the shopping centre. More information about the market and how to become a trader can be found on Kingsway Centre's social media pages. On Sunday, July 27, there is a dance workshop at Nash Village Hall for intermediate dancers. (Image: Supplied) The Flava with Slow, Smooth & Stylish Workshop will focus on foundation and progressive techniques, and costs £10 to attend, or £18 for both the workshop and freestyle session. The workshop is scheduled for 12.15pm to 1.45pm, and is set to guide participants through the beauty of slow-paced dance styles. The freestyle session will follow from 2pm to 6pm, costing £12 to attend, or £18 for both the workshop and freestyle. The event is ticket-only to ensure a gender balance, and attendees are welcome to bring their own snacks to keep them fuelled for the afternoon of dancing. Resident DJ, Jen Eddy, will provide the music. There is free parking on-site at Nash Village Hall, and seating around the dance floor. A spokesman for Nash Village Hall said: "In this session of our Slow, Smooth & Stylish workshops, you'll explore SILC-based movements, applying foundation and progressive techniques. "This workshop will guide you through the timeless beauty of slow-paced dance styles, emphasising fluidity, posture, and effortless connection with your partner. "Our resident DJ, Jen Eddy, will keep you on the floor with music at a slower pace, perfect for a chilled afternoon."
