THE PARKING LOT at Quail Lakes Baptist Church was transformed into a winter wonderland recently with nearly 40 tons of snow where children made snowmen and sledded down the mini-snow hills, roasted s’mores and picked up hot dogs and hot chocolate for free.
The church organized the Annual Snow Day 2023 this past Saturday afternoon. It is one of the church’s three big events in the year — Snow Day in March, Water Day in August and Harvest Carnival in October.
Caitlyn King sleds down the snow with Albert Byerly, 2, during Snow Day at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton on April 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Juan Soria roasts marshmallows as his daughter Ruth Soria drinks hot chocolate during Snow Day at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton on April 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Tori Thompson, 8, roasts marshmallows during Snow Day at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Volunteer Della Rivera adds cheese sauce to nachos during Snow Day at Quail Lakes Baptist Church on Saturday. The church gave out free food including nachos, hot dogs, s’mores and hot chocolate during the event. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Brenda Fierro, 10, shows her snowman to her mother during Snow Day at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton on April 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Ryland Cordova, 2, and Aiden Cordova, 6, play in the snow during Snow Day at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Ariah Moen, 3, prepares to sled down an artifical snowhill during Snow Day at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton on April 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Dalia Quiroz, 7, at left, and Andy Quiroz, 5, sled down the snow during Snow Day at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton on April 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
It’s just another day in the Sierra — or not — at the Annual Snow Day 2023 at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton on April 8, 2023. The church trucked in 40 tons of snow from the mountains to share with local residents, many who might not have the opportunity to visit the snow otherwise. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
“We realized that a lot of the kids here in Stockton have never been up to the snow,” said Tim Ankcorn, the executive director of operations at the church. “So, we thought it would be nice to bring the snow to them … to experience what it’s like to play in the snow.”
Started in 2015, Snow Day usually takes place in the first weekend of March and was scheduled for March 11 this year. The event was then rescheduled to April 8 due to a series of atmospheric rivers that kept the city wet through March.
“This year, it was just raining and snowing the whole time,” Ankcorn said. “The last thing we wanted was it to be raining while the snow was here, for the snow to get all slushy and nobody would be having any fun.”
The event had about 40 tons of snow brought in from the Tahoe area in four big semi-trucks.
Ankcorn said the church though it would be a good idea to reschedule Snow Day to the day before Resurrection Sunday.
“Easter Sunday is like the Super Bowl for churches. We will have free coffee and doughnuts and a special escape room for the kids,” Ankcorn said Saturday. “Having Snow Day today is a great way to invite people back to the campus for Sunday services.”
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
