COEUR d’ALENE — Liam loves dancing. And dressing up. And desserts.

He enjoyed all three on Saturday night.

“I feel really excited,” said Liam, wearing a tie, sport jacket and a golden crown. “I feel really excited.”

Likewise for Hana, who was thrilled to be back at a Special Needs Recreation prom.

“Awesome,” she said.

When asked what was the best part, she didn’t hesitate: “Being with friends, of course,” she said as she turned to head back to the dance floor.

SNR is a nonprofit that provides recreational opportunities to people with disabilities. Saturday night, it hosted its first prom since 2017 at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

About 100 people were greeted with bubbles, introductions, cheers, crowns and the chance to reunite with friends.

Each name was called as they entered: Melanie, David, Amber, Jeremy, Jesse, Emily, Clayton, Tammy.

“We are excited to bring back this favorite dance for our participants. They have missed out on so much in the past few years,” said Lindsay Patterson, executive director.

It was a special night, with honorary guest appearances from Mrs. Idaho America 2021 Marie Widmyer, and Ms. Wheelchair Idaho 2022 Jessica Bellefeuille.

Guests arrived in style, many dressed to kill and waving as their names were announced over the loudspeaker by Bellefeuille followed by Widmyer crowning them.

Patterson said the event came together thanks to many community partners such as the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene awarding SNR a grant to help pay prom expenses.

Directors and students from the Academy of Cosmetology in Post Falls helped the gals with hair on Saturday morning at the SNR facility.

With the help of 40 volunteers, SNR offered free bow tie rentals for the gentlemen, free beauty center appointments for the ladies, and a floral shop with fresh boutonniere and corsages.

Decor and setup were led by volunteers from Encounter Church in Rathdrum.

Patterson said SNR clients love dancing, dressing up, desserts and feeling special. They did their best to create that experience.

“Everybody is having a wonderful time,” she said.

It’s been a rough two years for SNR with COVID-19, and five years since the last SNR prom, so guys and gals didn’t waste any time.

Once the introductions and grand entrances were finished, guests took the dance floor, doing their best John Travolta impersonations, showing off impressive and energetic spins and kicks, complete with big smiles and laughter.

They wouldn’t stop until closing time at 9 p.m.

Patterson said SNR is where people with special needs come together to feel a sense of belonging — a place where they can just be themselves.

“Getting our group back together for the SNR prom is so important to us,” Patterson said. “I love seeing their friendships when they are reunited with somebody they haven’t seen.”

Kelley Loisel was helping out at the prom, and her son Mitch is an SNR client.

She said the prom meant so much to him, and her, that he could participate, have such an evening and be “just like the other kids.”

“A chance they would otherwise not have,” she said.

But one that is well deserved and greatly appreciated.