Christmas is a magical time of year.

About 50 elementary school children, chosen by their principals, discovered just how magical on Tuesday afternoon at the Warwick Rotary Christmas party. The magic came in different forms, although a fella with a white beard and a red suit had something to do about it.

There was the actual magic of entertainer Jay Brunelle, whose tricks had the kids making crazy faces, dancing and laughing in sheer delight; there was the magic of pre-Christmas gifts; and for the adults there was the charm of childhood innocence…and unselfishness.

Robert DeGregorio of Slocum Realty and Lara D’Antuono, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Warwick, found it after Santa gave out gifts and everyone had their photo taken with the jolly elf.

DeGregorio picked up on what seemed to be disappointment when one boy opened his gift – a radio-controlled ATV with a driver. There were many radio-controlled gifts including cars, trucks, a pink Cadillac with a Barbie doll and a helicopter designed to take off from a flatbed truck. Kids were running around the all-purpose room at Robertson School, following vehicles as they weaved between people’s legs and smashed into one another and raced. But this boy had seen others get Legos and he was wishing for that.

DeGregorio asked the boy if he liked the ATV. The boy said he did, but shared his wish. DeGregorio found a Lego gift and told the boy he could keep the ATV, too, but the boy thought it would be better if the ATV went to someone who had their heart set on that. The boy’s thought was a highlight of the party for DeGregorio and D’Antuono, who have chaired for years. Rotary Club members buy gifts based on age and gender. The club also gives out coat gift certificates for Walmart to the parents and guardians when they come to pick up the kids at the end of the afternoon. Club member Kenneth Quaranto provided certificates for shoes. There was more, like pizza and cupcakes provided by Gregg’s that the kids got to decorate with lots of colored jimmies.

For Rotarians, the party can also be a test of instruction-reading and assembly skills. With boxes open and their contents spread out on the floor, club members came armed with screwdrivers and pliers to get the electronic toys up and running.

And with a bit of magic, it all happened.