Escalon’s Friends Helping Friends Club, in conjunction with the local Escalon Kiwanis Club, hosted a festive holiday gathering for students from throughout San Joaquin County earlier this month.

Attendees came from a number of special day classes from surrounding school districts as well as different work programs, congregating in the old gym on the campus of Escalon High School for dancing, music, visits with Santa, games, lunch and more.

All enjoyed the opportunity to take photos with Santa if they wanted, as well as sharing some holiday wishes with him. Lunch was provided, served up by members of the Friends group and the old gym was transformed into a winter wonderland with decorations, including snowflakes, poinsettias, Christmas trees and larger-than-life lollipops.

Organizers have worked with the Kiwanis Club to put on the program for the last several years, giving the special day class students a fun way to celebrate the holiday with their peers.

Also a part of the festive day, a Royal Court was selected, with a King, Queen, Prince and Princess selected from among the attendees from the various school districts in the county.

Kiwanis Club representatives on hand to help out included Marion Harrison, Don ‘Santa’ Pascarella, Tom Lester and Alan Biedermann.