There may have been a change in venue, but the San Joaquin Ringers Handbell Ensemble did perform on Monday evening, Dec. 16 in front of a very appreciative audience. When it was discovered that there was a conflict for the use of the Escalon Library’s Ekholm Room, the American Legion across Second Street offered to have the concert in their not-so-long-ago refurbished post.

The Ringers performed for an hour, playing some very familiar and some not-so-familiar Christmas songs and carols. Different techniques were used; some mere ringing and some hitting of the bells with mallets, called malleting. There was time between numbers for questions and answers and there were explanations given about some of the bell-ringing methods, some ringers playing as many as four per song. A few attendees are aspiring bell ringers themselves and they gained some insight into their own future performances.

Refreshments were offered by the Friends of the Escalon Library and Friends President Sally Hale described some of the programs offered at the library based on donations by the Friends, such as the Summer Reading Program, the Winter Reading Program, an upcoming program on bats, as well as the nearly annual Handbell Concert. This holiday season the Friends are also offering le boxes of See’s Candy for sale inside the library.