When Emily Leid called Lititz Springs Park to reserve a pavilion for the teddy-bear themed first birthday party for her son Teddy, she got some surprising news: his party coincided with the 23rd Annual Teddy Bear Day in the Park.

What are the odds?

“We’re down celebrating Teddy Bear Day with our little teddy bear,” said Leid, holding her son. Dressed in tan overalls and sporting two handmade bear ears, Teddy fit right in with the crowd.

Mother and son were surrounded yesterday by bears and children of all sizes at the event sponsored by the Lititz Women of Today, a community service group. The event featured games, crafts, face painting, a coloring contest, and of course, a parade.

Awards were given out to the top three winners in three parade categories: Best Dressed, Most Unusual, and the Best Bear Float. The parade this year was judged by Deb Stein, State President of the Women of Today, who was invited by the Lititz chapter. Her duty wasn’t as easy as one might think.

“That was very difficult,” said Stein, “especially the unusual ones.” Stein she didn’t want to disappoint any of the children, and was glad to hear from a volunteer that a little Lititz girl said it was the best day the girl ever had.

Taking home first prize in the Best Dressed division was Taliyana Dorsey, who looked lovely in her white gown. Second place went to Carly Ruchalski, whose blue plaid outfit perfectly matched that of her bear, and third place went to Dakota Martin dressed like Anna from Disney’s Frozen.

The Most Unusual division was won by Tommy Wainman, who was carrying a gigantic brown bear that was almost as big as he was. Persia Crossen came in second, and rounding out third were Julianne, Samantha, and Emily Lenard.

The Best Bear Float was led by Alexa Glick led a Frozen-themed wagon featuring stuffed horses pulling a white bear dressed in a sequined snowflake-covered dress. Second place went to Sophie and Jacob Hamby for their patriotic wagonload of assorted bears, and third went to sisters Mattie and Becca Kuhl with their float that featured Girl Scout cookies.

While some came for the parade and contest, for some the event has become a family tradition. Kayla Shaffer brought her children, Riley and Carter Yost, because she has fond memories of Teddy Bear Day.

“I came here when I was a kid,” said Shaffer. “I remember the prizes,” she said, “little furry teddy bears, and the beehive game where you put your hand in and pull out a prize.”

Even though the downtown bells chimed out “Here Comes the Sun” at 1pm, grey skies remained and intermittent rain fell during the event. The children’s spirits, however, didn’t dampen a bit.

Taliyana Dorsey, a first grader at Bonfield Elementary, enjoyed her first-place victory in the parade.

“It made me happy,” she said, after looking through her prize bag filled with a school box to color, some markers, “crackers to chew on,” and a bright green whistle. She also saw some of her school friends.

“She enjoys coming,” said her mother, Aurealis Dorsey, who also liked the charity aspect of the event. “They were looking for donations for Conner Holland this year. We like helping out the community,” she said.

The Lititz Women of Today collected funds to benefit the non-profit organization led by Kevin and Sheryl Holland, whose son Conner passed away due to leukemia in 2011. The foundation provides support, care, and financial assistance to families who are coping with pediatric cancer.