Art, Industry & a New Pour: Ravenswood's ArtWalk Returns for Year 24 and KOVAL Raises a Can
By Socialhood News · Ravenswood ·
Ravenswood is heading into September with two distinctly local reasons to celebrate — and both speak directly to the creative, entrepreneurial identity that has defined the neighborhood for generations. The Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce has announced that the Ravenswood ArtWalk: Tour of Arts & Industry returns on September 12–13, 2026, for its 24th annual edition, making it one of the longest-running neighborhood arts weekends anywhere in Chicago. And just in time for the festivities, Ravenswood's own KOVAL Distillery has launched a first-of-its-kind product line: canned ready-to-drink cocktails.
The ArtWalk is the kind of event that fills every corner of the neighborhood. Each September, the industrial corridor along the Ravenswood Metra tracks — the same stretch of studios, fabricators, and creative businesses that gives the neighborhood its gritty-meets-artsy character — swings open its doors to the public for a full weekend of open studios and galleries, a sprawling outdoor arts market featuring pop-ups and more than 80 local makers, live music, food trucks, and community energy that's hard to replicate anywhere else in Chicago. This year marks the 24th time neighbors and visitors have gathered for this signature event, a milestone that cements the ArtWalk as a true Ravenswood institution.
For first-timers, the Tour of Arts & Industry is the single best way to understand what makes Ravenswood tick. The neighborhood's industrial corridor isn't a relic of the past — it's an active, living creative ecosystem where glassblowers, printmakers, woodworkers, and designers work alongside established manufacturers. The ArtWalk throws the door wide open, letting neighbors walk into spaces they might pass every day without ever seeing inside. Whether you're a longtime resident or someone discovering the neighborhood for the first time, it's an afternoon (or two) well spent. Check ravenswoodchicago.org for the full studio map, hours, and participating locations as the September 12th kickoff approaches.
Meanwhile, KOVAL Distillery — the grain-to-bottle pioneer that has been crafting spirits out of its Ravenswood home since 2008 — is making headlines of its own. The distillery just launched its first line of ready-to-drink canned cocktails, a debut that marks a significant new chapter for one of the neighborhood's most beloved homegrown brands. The initial release includes two sparkling classics, bringing KOVAL's signature craft approach to a format that travels to picnics, back patios, and neighborhood festivals with considerably more ease than a bottle of rye. For neighbors who have long raised a glass of KOVAL at the Tasting Room, the canned line is a chance to bring a little piece of Ravenswood wherever the end of summer takes them.
Also worth noting for neighbors with a taste for discovery: Mixed Mediums has quietly joined the Ravenswood business community, adding yet another creative outlet to a neighborhood that never seems to run short of them. The arrival fits a broader pattern — Ravenswood has seen a steady stream of independent, creative businesses plant roots here over the past year, drawn by the neighborhood's deep network of makers, its walkable corridors, and the support infrastructure of the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.
Taken together, the ArtWalk's 24th edition and KOVAL's new product launch are a fitting send-off to a summer that has seen Ravenswood fire on all cylinders. Head to ravenswoodchicago.org to get the ArtWalk studio map and updates, swing by the KOVAL Tasting Room on Ravenswood Avenue to try the new cans firsthand, and keep an eye on the GRCC's calendar for everything else the neighborhood has cooking this fall. Ravenswood's best season may be just getting started.
Sources:
1. https://ravenswoodchicago.org/
2. https://business.ravenswoodchicago.org/list
3. https://ravenswoodchicago.org/category/community-news/