ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. – A Rosie Place for Children in South Bend offered an open house for special needs children on Saturday.

Children who attended the event were able to have sweets and enjoy a hot cocoa bar.

Activities such as face painting and crafts were also available alongside pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

"Our most exciting thing is Mr. and Mrs. Claus come. So Santa and Mrs. Claus take pictures with the children- sometimes this is their first family photo, because they don't get to just go to the mall, just too many germs and too many people, and so today we just really create an opportunity for them to be able to come and engage in their community,” said Tieal Bishop, CEO at A Rosie Place for Children.

Bishop says that the event was a great opportunity for special needs children who normally aren’t able to experience this outside of A Rosie Place.