Who says bocce can’t make the world a better place? What started with a few Chicago food-industry friends looking to get together and enjoy some downtime has turned into the Wicker Park Bocce Club, which has transformed an unused urban lot into two bocce courts.

To celebrate the transformation and support the club, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is bringing its Intergalactic Bocce Tournament to the Midwest for the first time. The tournament – similar to ones Dogfish holds on the East and West coasts – is expected to raise more than $1,000 for the club.

“Bocce is in our blood – or maybe I should say beer – here at Dogfish Head,” says Founder and President Sam Calagione. “What other sport can you play with a beer in your hand? We love the grassroots work Wicker Park Bocce Club is doing and jumped at the chance to show them some love.”

The Wicker Park Bocce Club courts, as 1944 W. Crystal St., are just the beginning, according to founders Alex Gara of Mindy's Hot Chocolate and Justin Arnett-Graham of L20.

“The goal of the group was to create a place to gather, roll some bocce and enjoy some lazy afternoons,” says Gara. “But we had so much fun, we want to keep the momentum going and help spread the sport of bocce in Chicago.”

The tournament, going down Oct. 18-19 on the Whole Foods Market® Lincoln Park rooftop, includes 24 teams. The brewery, the bocce club and friends have filled about half of the spots and are looking for teams of four to fill out the bracket. Entry is $375 and includes bocce, stainless-steel pint glasses, tasty grub and lots of Dogfish Head beer. Deadline to register is Oct. 9.

Also, on the afternoon of the second day, the public is invited to watch the championship round and sample a few Dogfish Head beers. There will be a small fee to support the club.

For information on joining the fun, contact Mark Carter at mark@dogfish.com or (302) 684-1000, ext. 225.