More than 80 Decatur County Special Olympians attended the Snowflake Ball Saturday evening at the Kirbo Center and for those who attended, it was difficult to tell who enjoyed themselves more  — participants or volunteers.
Each special Olympian and their date walked down the promenade followed by several hours of entertainment on the dance floor with a DJ.
“This was the smoothest operating Snowflake Ball we have ever had,” Special Olympics chairman Jim Beck said. “We had no issues or problems and everything went real well. We had a great committee that did an excellent job putting this all together.”
Beck said this is the fourth year for the Snowflake Ball, an event organized to give Special Olympians in the area a night to remember. Organizers say these participants may have never had a chance to go to prom themselves, but this ball offers them that opportunity.
Volunteer Pat Harrell said the participants dress to the nines each year, get their hair done and prepare for months for the event.
“The participants enjoy it so much,” Harrell said. “They just live for the next one to come. So many of them get brand new dresses and get their hair fixed.”
Harrell said her favorite part of the event is watching the participants promenade.
“When their name is called out and their attire is described, you can just see them smile from ear to ear,” Harrell said of the participants. “That is by far my favorite part.”
Beck said in planning for next year, he hopes their organization can reach out to new participants.
“We see the same faces every year and they love it,” Beck said. “But we would like to see if there are some people out there that we are not reaching and including in these events like the Snowflake Ball.”