The Hoboken Elks Lodge kept up a decades-old holiday tradition for children with special needs.

The lodge held a socially distanced afternoon of fun with music, gifts and photos with Santa on Saturday.

“We’re keeping it at a small amount inside, but we’re still giving those special needs children and their families that need smiles for the holiday,” says Keith O’Dwyer. “And giving them that same great feeling. We want them to feel as normal as possible.”

The Hoboken Elks Lodge started the tradition in the 1950s.

At the time, children were learning to use crutches during the polio epidemic.