Halloween in the Summer? Yes, Please. Summerween Returns to Soundgrowler for Year Four
- John E. Streetz
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
There's a moment every July when I realize just how far Summerween has come. What started back in 2023 as a fun little idea — what if we did a Halloween-themed market in the middle of summer? — has turned into one of the South Side's favorite annual traditions. I'm thrilled to say the Fourth Annual Summerween Market is coming back to Soundgrowler Brewing Co. in Tinley Park on Saturday, July 25, 2026, and I genuinely can't wait for you all to see this year's lineup.
Mark your calendars: we'll be taking over Soundgrowler's indoor barrel room and outdoor beer garden from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free, the event is family friendly, and there's plenty of free parking right outside, so there's really no excuse not to swing by. Soundgrowler is located at 8201 183rd Street, Suite P, in Tinley Park.
I say this every year, but it's true every year: Summerween isn't a craft show that happens to have a spooky theme. It's become its own thing entirely — a destination event where people plan their whole Saturday around it. When I started this in 2023, I had no idea it would grow into something people circle on their calendars. Four years later, it's a South Side favorite, and I could not be more thankful for that.
What You'll Find This Year
We've got more than 50 artists, authors, makers, and specialty food vendors filling every corner of the brewery, and I mean every corner — the barrel room, the beer garden, all of it. This lineup leans hard into everything I love about Halloween while still keeping that easy, laid-back summer energy. It's spooky, it's creative, it's welcoming, and honestly, it's just plain fun.
You'll find original artwork, horror-inspired décor, handcrafted jewelry, woodworking, pottery, candles, fossil art & apparel, books, crochet creations, apparel, tarot readings, gourmet pies, freshly roasted coffee, gourmet pickles, specialty sweets, handcrafted glasswork, home décor, and more one-of-a-kind finds than I could possibly list here. If you love discovering things you simply won't find anywhere else, this is your afternoon.
One thing I take seriously with every market I put together is curation. I'm not just filling booth spaces — I'm building a lineup where every artist adds something different while still fitting the overall vibe of the show. That's what keeps these markets feeling intentional instead of overcrowded, and it's a big part of why people keep coming back.
Left to right: Rantana Creations from 2024's Summerween Market, the event logo designed by Libby McArthur Art, and some new art from Slow Poke Sculpts!
New Faces Joining Us This Year
I love introducing new artists to the Summerween crowd, and this year's debut class is a strong one. Making their first appearance at Summerween: Dye The Day Away, Gunderstorm Art, Hex & Crust, Jack Lasater, Lost & Found Custom Planters, Rogue Relics, Saucy Makes, Scruppet's Cavern of Curiosities, Stink Co., Storytellers Forge Studios, Sweet Ghoul, Thick Nick Glass, and Where arts Collide.
Familiar Favorites Returning
And of course, no Summerween would feel complete without the artists who've helped define this event over the years. I'm so glad to have back: Art of Alex Kujawa, Dead Girl Decor, DK Custom Woodwork Co., Fossil Creek Art, FrankenWerks Studios, Gigawatt Coffee Roasters, KP's Candy Factory, Libby McArthur Art, Masterclass Savory Sweet Foods, Primtentions, Serpent & Flame Candle Company, Ten Cups Tarot, and Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods LLC.
A Few Artists I Want to Highlight
Dead Girl Decor is back with wonderfully weird jewelry, horror-inspired ornaments, bookmarks, hand towels, and home décor for anyone who believes every day should feel a little like Halloween.
FrankenWerks Studios is bringing back the fan-favorite BooBrigade ghost sculptures and those quirky FrankenHead magnets that have basically become a Summerween tradition at this point.
Fossil Creek Art blends cryptids, folklore, fossils, and prehistoric creatures with repurposed materials, creating artwork and handcrafted goods inspired by both history and imagination.
Making its debut, Rogue Relics specializes in tattoo-inspired hand engravings on mirrors, ashtrays, jewelry boxes, compact mirrors, Zyn tins, and other glassware, plus unique domino coasters that show off a really distinctive style. Every piece is engraved by hand.
Gunderstorm Art is introducing haunting pen-and-ink illustrations filled with eerie characters, Krampus ornaments, ghost art prints, horror-inspired apparel, and whimsical creatures that live somewhere between charming and unsettling.
If you're looking for something delightfully unpredictable, check out Adara Selene Creations, where owner Mary embraces what she calls "the ADHD of creativity." Her booth is an ever-changing mix of handcrafted jewelry, knitwear, shirts, bookmarks, home décor, plant markers, wood burning, and whatever else has caught her creative eye lately.
Food lovers, don't skip Hex & Crust — gourmet pies and slices with inventive seasonal flavors that have already built a loyal following.
For a truly unique handcrafted gift, stop by Kraftasaurous Kreations, known for epoxy tumblers, snow globe tumblers, embroidered apparel, and moisture-absorbing car coasters that customers say they've never seen anything like before.
Readers and horror fans should meet Jessie Rose of Black Summer Press, whose psychological thrillers blend heavy metal culture with dark storytelling, and be sure to check out **Morbid and Mortified**, showcasing ethically sourced bone art and oddities that celebrate the beauty in nature's more unusual side.
Left to write: Saucy Makes, Hex & Crust, Rogue Relics & Jessie Rose of Black Summer Press
Food and Drinks at Soundgrowler
The experience goes well beyond shopping, which is part of what makes Soundgrowler such a special venue for this. They've built a reputation as one of the South Side's premier brewery destinations by pairing exceptional craft beverages with an outstanding Mexican street food menu. Throughout Summerween, you can grab Tortilla Hands, their flagship Mexican lager, or Orange Haze IPA, one of their signature hazy IPAs. There will also be handcrafted tequila cocktails, house-made fruited seltzers, premium Mexican sodas, house-made root beer, so there's genuinely something for everyone, whether you drink or not.
The kitchen will be running a modified menu featuring their popular tacos and burritos, which makes it easy to spend the whole afternoon shopping, eating, relaxing, and just soaking in everything the brewery has going on.
This isn't a Halloween event that happens to fall in July. It's a summer artisan festival where Halloween fans finally get their own day in the sun. Whether you're into spooky art, amazing food, craft beer, or just love discovering talented local makers, Summerween has become one of those events I know people genuinely look forward to every year — and I'm right there with you.
Every purchase made during Summerween supports independent artists, authors, and small businesses from throughout Illinois and the surrounding Midwest, which is really what this whole thing is about for me.
The Details
Summerween Market takes place Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Soundgrowler Brewing Co., 8201 183rd Street, Suite P, Tinley Park, Illinois. Admission is free and the event is family friendly. Pets are welcome in the outdoor beer garden but aren't permitted inside the brewery — service animals are always welcome.
For event updates, artist spotlights, and the full vendor lineup, check out the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1998670764370921/
Scaring is caring. Attending is befriending. I hope you'll spend your Saturday with us. Costumes are welcome. We are hoping to have some friends of the alliance Cosplayers at the event too. If you would like to join us, please let us know!
Current artist list as of writing this (and this always is subject to change):
Cryptid Craft Studio
Jack Lasater
Lost & Found Custom Planters
My Big Monster Life
Scruppet's Cavern of Curiosities
SharonAble Crafts
Slow Poke Sculpts
Storytellers Forge Studios
Sweet Ghoul
Terri's Forgotten Forest
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Streetz Artz Alliance produces curated artisan markets throughout the Chicago suburbs, partnering with independent breweries and community-focused venues to showcase handmade artists, specialty food vendors, authors, and local makers. Every event is carefully curated to give visitors a unique shopping experience while supporting independent small businesses and the communities they serve.
