Oregon City's Teddy Bear Parade Returns After 2-Year Absence

OREGON CITY, OR — It's been two years since teddy bears filled the streets of Oregon City, but they were back Saturday in the first Teddy Bear Parade since before the start of the pandemic.

The parade, organized by the Oregon City Lions Club, collects new stuffed animals — they don't have to be teddy bears — that the club will distribute to agencies and organizations that deal with children in distress, according to the Lions Club.

"It was amazingly fun," local Lions Club President Rae Gordon told Patch. "It really made my heart proud to see all the smiles and to work side by side with hard-working volunteers to give this back to the community after it didn’t happen the last two years. "

The club said the toys go to hospitals, police departments, fire departments and women's shelters, among other places.

Toys were collected during the parade and dropped off at Clackamette Park, where the 1.1 mile parade ended.

People gathered in the park after the parade finished marching through downtown Oregon City, and toys were handed out to the agencies and organizations that provide comfort to children.

Organizers said that they collected more than 800 stuffed animals.