Best Buddies celebrated the holiday season with its Christmahanukwanzakah party on Saturday, December 12th. The party took place at the Riverside Town Hall and roughly 60 people attended.
“The party was a huge success,” junior and Best Buddies officer Danielle Ryan said.
Buddy pairs bonded over music and holiday treats, which included a chocolate fondue with fruits and snacks for dipping. Tables were set up along the walls for eating and holiday bingo, as well as game stations like snowball buckets and pin the nose on Rudolf.
Many buddies were in for a big surprise when Santa paid a special visit. He later performed in a funny skit put on by several guy peer buddies and associate members.
“The reaction from the buddies made the whole experience of being Santa worth it,” junior and Best Buddies officer Anthony Scianna said.
Another group game played at the party was a pass the present game where everyone sat in three groups and unwrapped layers of a giant present until someone got to what was inside. Also, a “wrap the associate” game, involving buddies wrapping the associate members like presents was a hit. The wrapped associates were then judged on who looked the best, based on the loudness of clapping by the spectators.
This was Best Buddies’ fourth event of the school year and there are still more to come. The next group event will be the club’s traditional outing to Enchanted Castle in January, and members are eagerly anticipating it.