MOUNT GREENWOOD — Once the presents are all unwrapped and the cookies have gone stale, the stage is set for dodge ball and children's movies in the 19th Ward.
The 19th Ward Youth Foundation will host its third annual Holiday Dodge Ball Tournament on Dec. 26 and 27 at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences in Mount Greenwood.
The annual tournament is open to all elementary school students living in the 19th Ward. It costs $1 per player, and the deadline for online registration is Wednesday.
More than 500 children play in the tournament at the Ag School at 3857 W. 111th St., said Ald. Matthew O'Shea (19th).
"What [parents] love about dodge ball is they can drop their kids off and go return that ill-fitting sweater or whatever and pick the kids up later," O'Shea said.
Children are grouped by age and randomly assigned teams. The schedule is posted online prior to the two-day tournament.
Another winter break tradition, the 6th Annual 19th Ward Children's Film Festival is set for Dec. 30 at the Beverly Arts Center. "Despicable Me 2" will air at 10 a.m., and "Monsters University" is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Admission is $1 per movie and includes a snack during the show. The movies are shown in the art center's 400-seat theater at 2407 W 111th St. in Morgan Park. The morning movie is often near capacity, and the afternoon showing isn't far behind, O'Shea said.
Parents of children living in the 19th Ward can reserve tickets for both screenings online.
