Trail App
Find and collect 31 Big Bears, 51 Bear Cubs and 1 special book bench. All while unlocking rewards and milestone rewards along the way. Plus the chance to get discounts on our exclusive Bear Hunt merchandise.
Dartford Bear Hunt Auction
The Bears are finding their forever homes on Thursday 1 October
Bid in person at Bluewater Village Marquee or online — online bidding is now open!.
Dartford Bear Hunt Raffle
For just £5 per ticket, you could take the adventure home and win a one-of-a-kind Bear Cub Sculpture from the Dartford Bear Hunt.
Memory bear
At the heart of this stunning art trail is ellenor’s Memory Bear, which offers individuals the chance to dedicate a name in memory of someone they love. Each name will become part of the sculpture itself creating a shared space for remembrance within the community.
Get Ready for a Bear-illiant Art Adventure!
This summer Dartford has been transformed by 31 stunning large Bear sculptures inspired by the beloved classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Designed by local and national artists, these Bears form an exciting, free public art trail through the town’s streets, parks, and open spaces.
Alongside them more than 50 Bear cubs, decorated by local schools and community groups, will be displayed in indoor locations such as museums, libraries, and storefronts, making this an event for the whole community!
Dartford bear hunt auction 1st October 2026
The Dartford Bear Hunt is coming to its spectacular finale.
On Thursday 1 October, our Bears will find their forever homes at the Dartford Bear Hunt Auction — with the option to join us in person or bid online from wherever you are.
Online bidding is now open.
Working with Walker Books
We are delighted to be working with The Walker Books Group to bring We’re Going on a Bear Hunt to Life!
This beautiful, hand-drawn animation based on the classic book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury follows the intrepid adventures of a family of children as they venture through whirling snowstorms, oozing mud and dark forests in search of bears…
‘This is an exciting and unique opportunity for ellenor to partner with Walker Books and the beloved classic, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Based on our experience, this partnership is a perfect fit for Dartford, offering not only a high-profile, family-friendly theme but also the potential to create a truly engaging and successful art trail.
It’s a wonderful chance to bring people together, celebrate creativity, and raise valuable funds for ellenor’s work in the process’.
Charlie Langhorne MD and co-Founder Wild in Art
Join the conversation #dartfordbearhunt
This Art Trail is helping bring awareness and funding to your local hospice charity, ellenor, who take care of children and adults with life limiting illness, we recently had a childrens party to bring together families and children who ellenor are supporting.
you can find out more about ellenor via ellenor.org
Thank you for supporting ellenor
#childrensservicesinkent #hospiceinkent #childrenshospice #adultshospice
🐻🎉 WE’VE HIT 100,000 BEAR SCULPTURE COLLECTIONS! 🎉🐻
What an incredible milestone for the Dartford Bear Hunt!
A HUGE congratulations and thank you to every single person who has helped make the art trail such a success. From the amazing artists who brought our bears to life, to our brilliant sponsors, supporters, volunteers, local businesses and everyone who has stepped onto the trail and collected a bear sculpture along the way, this milestone belongs to YOU! ❤️
Every visit, every photo, every share and every bit of support has helped raise vital funds and awareness for ellenor, helping us continue to be there for local families when they need us most.
100,000 collections is an incredible achievement, and we couldn’t have done it without our wonderful community.
So, paws up for everyone involved! 🐾🐻
Here’s to the Dartford Bear Hunt and the next adventure!
Find out more at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#DartfordBearHunt #100000Bears #EventsInKent #FamilyEventsInKent #FamilyDayOut #KentEvents #ellenor
Enter the Dartford Bear Hunt Raffle!
TAKE THE BEAR HUNT HOME 🐻
Fancy owning a unique piece of the Dartford Bear Hunt?
For just £5, you could win a one-of-a-kind Bear Cub Sculpture, plus fantastic family prizes including Bear Keeper Experiences at Wildwood Trust, a Showcase Cinema family ticket and a Bear Hunt merchandise hamper.
Every ticket helps support ellenor.
https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/dartford-bear-hunt-raffle
#eventsinkent #thingstodoinkent #kentevents #bearhunt #raffle
Our Beary Starry Night bear is in repair and will be back on the trail shortly!
Thank you to everyone who reported back any damage!
dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#eventsinkent #kentevents #familyeventsinkent #dartfordbearhunt
We have had a lovely visit from Jeremy Kite, leader of @dartfordbc at our @bluewatershopping bear hunt shop today!
Dartford have been an amazing presenting partner in the Art Trail being across Bluewater and Dartford this summer!
Want to find out more how to get involved this summer? visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#eventsinkent #summereventsinkent #thingstodoinkent #kentevents #dartfordbearhunt
We got even more trail completers, look at there happy faces!
If you have enjoyed the art trail and have finished collecting all the bears, please make sure to visit the Bluewater or Dartford shop to collect your certificate for finishing!
Please visit dartfordbearhunt.co.uk for any information!
#dartfordbearhunt #arttrail #eventsinkent #thingstodoinkent #charityevents
A huge thank you to all of our incredible artists who have helped bring the Dartford Bear Hunt to life. 🐻
Behind every bear is a story, a creative vision and countless hours of passion and dedication. From the first ideas and designs through to the finished artworks being enjoyed by the community, our talented artists have created something truly special for Dartford.
Your creativity has helped transform the town into a place of discovery, bringing families together, inspiring young explorers and helping us raise awareness of ellenor and the vital support we provide for local families.
We are so grateful for the time, talent and imagination you have shared with us. Thank you for helping make the Dartford Bear Hunt a trail to remember.
Discover the stories behind the artists and their amazing creations at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
#ellenor #WildInArt #DartfordBearHunt #Dartford #CommunityArt #ThankYou
Taking place in the Bluewater Village Marquee, this family-friendly event is your final opportunity to experience the full collection of over 80 Bears and Cubs together in one spectacular display.
With timed entry slots available across both Saturday and Sunday, it’s easy to plan your visit. Plus, with free on-site parking and a great choice of restaurants and cafés nearby in Bluewater’s food court, why not make a day of it?
Don’t miss this unforgettable finale to the Bear Hunt Trail – we can’t wait to see you there!
Buy tickets at dartfordbearhunt.co.uk
We’re going on an Art Hunt—are you coming?
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Our Sponsors & Partners
YOUR DONATIONS CREATE REAL CHANGE
ellenor needs £9.6 million each year to continue caring and supporting thousands of patients and families facing life limiting and life-threatening illness in Kent. We are a charity that relies on the generosity of our local community. Your donation however big or small makes a real difference to patients and their families.
Walker books
Walker Books UK is part of the vibrant international The Walker Books Group that includes Walker Books Australia, Candlewick Press, Holiday House and Peachtree Press in the USA.
Walker Books UK is an award-winning publisher making magical new stories for children of all ages. For generations, they have been the home of stories that feel both classic and fresh. From beautiful picture books to curl up with at bedtime to rib-tickling middle grade adventures, and from epic fantasy thrillers to fascinating, expansive non-fiction, there is something in their range of bestselling books for everyone.
The major bestselling brands for the group are We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Guess How Much I Love You, Maisy, the widely acclaimed Judy Moody, and the phenomenal Where’s Wally? /Where’s Waldo?
Lupus Films
Multi award-winning London-based studio Lupus Films was set up by Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding in 2002 and has since grown to become one of the world’s leading film and television production companies.
The company specialises in high quality family entertainment and adaptations of much-loved works of children’s literature, such as BAFTA nominated half-hour specials THE SNOWMAN AND THE SNOWDOG, WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, MOG’S CHRISTMAS and THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA, which won an International Kids Emmy® Award.
Lupus Films has produced a number of animated feature films including the award-winning ETHEL & ERNEST, based on the autobiographical graphic novel by Raymond Briggs; KENSUKE’S KINGDOM, an adaptation of the bestselling children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo, and THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN WONDERLAND, based on the popular picture-book by Carys Bexington and Kate Hindley.
