Have a Party with Your Bear Day

The Have a Party with Your Bear Day is observed every year on November 16. This fun holiday invites people—children and adults alike—to gather their teddy bears (or favourite plush bear friends), and throw a cheerful party just for them.

History of Have a Party with Your Bear Day

The origin of this day is not fully documented, but it is generally accepted that the holiday first appeared around 1996, likely initiated by the National Teddy Bear Collectors Club as a way to celebrate the enduring joy teddy bears bring.
Over time the day has grown into an informal celebration rooted in imagination and play, where hosts invite friends (and their bears) over for themed snacks, games and cuddly companionship.

Why is Have a Party with Your Bear Day important?

This holiday matters because teddy bears often represent comfort, childhood memories and the simple joy of a trusted companion. Taking a moment to pause and honour those feelings can bring connection and warmth.
It also encourages creativity and shared fun—throwing a party with teddy bears invites hosts and guests to imagine, decorate, play, and laugh together in a light-hearted way.

Here are five simple things this day encourages:

• Gathering plush bear friends and making them part of your day.
• Hosting a small party or tea time around your teddy bear(s).
• Sharing memories with friends or family about favourite stuffed toys.
• Decorating with a bear theme and preparing bear-themed treats.
• Taking time to appreciate simple, playful moments and companionship.

How to Celebrate (or Observe) Have a Party with Your Bear Day

Choose one of the most fitting ways to celebrate this day, then lean into the fun of it. Perhaps host a teddy-bear tea party: invite friends (and their bears), set a table with cups of tea or hot chocolate, serve cookies shaped like bears, and play gentle music while letting the stuffed guests “chat” and pose. You might also arrange a cosy corner at home where everyone—and their bears—can take turns sharing favourite bear stories, or have a photo-booth session dressed up with bear ears and props.
Emotionally, it’s a chance to reconnect with the simpler joys of childhood, to share laughter and companionship, and to honour the comforting presence that a favourite teddy bear has offered through years.

Here are five ideas to pick from:

• Invite friends and their teddy bears for a proper party: decorations, treats, music.
• Host a tea party for your bear (or bears), real or imagined.
• Bake or decorate bear-shaped cookies, cupcakes or other sweet snacks.
• Set up a photo booth or craft station with bear costumes, hats or props.
• Share your bear’s story: when you got it, what memories you have with it.

Have a Party with Your Bear Day Dates Table