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Read the press release here.

White Sox Dazzle Kids with Holiday Party

By Casey Cora | December 14, 2012 4:08pm

ARMOUR SQUARE — More than 600 kids from area grade schools, housing projects and boys and girls clubs arrived by the busload for the annual Chicago White Sox holiday party.

The party, held Thursday at the outfield patio of U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W. 35th St., is an annual tradition.

Set against the backdrop of Christmas music, the festivities featured crafts, games and a roving band of performers on stilts who cracked jokes and dazzled kids with magic tricks.

The kids scarfed down ballpark fare like hot dogs and chips as they waited for gift bags delivered by Santa Claus himself. Before Santa arrived, though, an appearance from White Sox mascot "Southpaw" sent the place into a frenzy.

The partygoers were kids from South Side elementary schools, clubs and housing projects including Wentworth Gardens, Dearborn Homes, Lake Parc Place and Oakwood Shores.

Asked about his favorite part of the day, 8-year-old Christian McDuffie of Ignace Paderewski Elementary School quickly answered that it was playing tag outside in the unseasonably warm weather.

He would later retract his statement, saying it was "watching people juggle and do tricks."