The 4th Lohas Bear Carnival 2016 co-organized by the Taichung City Economic Development Bureau and the Taiwan Teddy Bear Association (TWTBA) will be held at the Fulfillment Amphitheater in Taichung during 17 December 2016 to 22 January 2017 to exhibit over 100 lovely Teddy bears. To welcome the Taichung World Flora Exposition 2018 and East Asia Youth Games (EAYG) 2019, the Flora Expo Bear holding a leopard cat (mascot of the Flora Expo) and the EAYG Bear holding a paddle also appeared at the “Flora Expo Forest Park” to promote both events. Deputy Mayor Chang Kuang-yao invited citizens to join the event and expressed the hope to continue organizing the event to turn Taichung into a happy city.

At the pre-event press conference held on Dec 14, the Economic Development Bureau invited the “Oh Bear Chief” of the Tourism Bureau, MOTC, and goodwill ambassador Stanly Hsu to present the event theme song “Romance in Summer Time” (transcribed) to heat up the conference. Then, Deputy Mayor Chang, Deputy Director Yu-cheng Chen of the Tourism and Travel Bureau, TWTBA Chairperson Yao-ren Lin, goodwill ambassador Stanly Hsu, Daming Senior High School Principle Yi-fen Song, representative of Legislator Xin-chun He service station, and City Councilperson Cheng-sian Cheng unveiled the start of the event. Ten Teddy bears including the Flora Expo Bear and EAYG Bear were exposed to the public.

According to Deputy Mayor Chang, the Teddy Bear Carnival this year will combine with the Taichung World Flora Exposition 2018 and the East Asia Youth Games 2019 to respond to Mayor Lin, Chia-Lung’s efforts to turn Taiwan into an “eventful city”, hoping to continue holding events in Taichung while promoting city culture and economic development. The Taichung City Government will make full efforts to heat up Taichung for every visitor to feel fun and joy in the city.

According to TWTBA Chairperson Yao-ren Lin, they innovate the Teddy Bear Carnival every year. Based on the “friendship” theme this year, one hundred Teddy bears will wittily raise their right arms and lift their left feet to show their “dynamics” to the public. The event also launches cooperation with rainbow grandpa Yong-pu Huang to search for Taichung’s local passion and tell local stories through his color paintings.

In addition, the Carnival has launched an industry-academia cooperation program with Daming Senior High School to include the Taichung World Flora Exposition 2018 and the East Asia Youth Games 2019 as the subject matters of the color painting contest. The champion will be invited to color a blank bear on-site on the grand opening day for the public to understand the process of Teddy bear making and thereby to stimulate the cultural and creative spark.

According to the Economic Development Bureau, at the “Flora Expo Forest Park”, the Expo site for the Teddy Bear Carnival, LOHAS bear installation arts related to flowers will be assembled around the Flora Expo Bear holding a leopard cat (mascot of the Flora Expo) in its hands to symbolize sustainable co-existence with nature together. At the event, the organizer will revolutionize the past demonstration pattern by placing LOHAS bears face to face for the public to see the exquisite design of each Flora Expo Bear from all angles. In addition, leaking Nara designer Yuki from Japan has personally designed a four-meter tall inflatable LOHAS bear. Citizens are welcome to join us and discover its wonder.

The Economic Development Bureau also encourages citizens to take public transportation to the Fulfillment Amphitheater where traffic will be heavy during the event. Please visit the event website at http://www.teddycarnival.com.tw/index.html for more transportation information.