Fundraising campaign saves St. John's Teddy Bear Picnic

This year's running of the famedTeddy Bear Picnic in St. John's has been secured, thanks to an online fundraising haul.

Children's entertainer TerryRiellysays the $3,500 in donations that came in through aGoFundMepage this year will allow the festival to go ahead next weekend.

"The response was quiet phenomenal to be honest. Very humbling too. So it's a definite go," he told CBC Radio'sWeekend AM.

Riellysays the fate of the picnic was in doubt, after he lost his yearly funding from the City of St. John's last year.

But the online fundraiser whichRiellysays he was reluctant to start means the festival is back and as big as ever.

"We've raised enough money to have members ofWonderbotCircus there, really awesome face painting, all of the usually things and a couple extra things too," he says.

The event starts at noon on July 16 at BannermanPark in St. John's.

Payback

The entertainer says the $3,500 raised this year is enough for him to give something back to all of those who've helped him over the years.

Heusuallyruns the event on a tighter budget.

"This give me a chance to say a little bit of a thank you, besides my hug," he said.

Still,Reillysays he's working on finding a sponsor for the event next year, to let him take a step back from the planning of the event.

"I am getting a little older, and I'm feeling like it's time to slow down a little bit."