Cocoa, Cheer, and Community Spirit Filled Downtown Ravenswood: Cocoa Crawl 2025 Highlights
Downtown Ravenswood came alive this past Saturday evening as families, friends, neighbors, and visitors gathered for our first-ever Cocoa Crawl during River Lights Night. From 4:00–6:00 PM, the historic district was bustling with people strolling from shop to shop, sampling holiday cocoa flavors, discovering new businesses, riding along the golf cart shuttle route, and soaking in the glow of the new LED Christmas tree.
This event exceeded every hope we had for it — and the community’s response was overwhelming.
⭐ “Excellent turnout and lots of holiday cheer!”
Participating businesses reported some of their busiest evenings of the year, with many meeting customers who had never stepped inside before.
Lisa Duncan, owner of Ravenswood Floral and Gifts, shared:
“Excellent turn out and lots of Holiday Cheer!! Looking forward to next year! Loved that we had people coming through the door who had never been in Ravenswood Floral before and said that they would be back!!! That’s what it’s all about 😉”
From peppermint chocolate to Thai Tea cocoa, French vanilla cappuccino, gingerbread, s’mores, and classic steaming cups of hot cocoa, each stop had its own festive twist — and every business brought something special to the experience.
🎨 Art, Local Shopping, and Community Spirit
Ravenswood Arts LLC welcomed well over 100 visitors into their gallery. Owner Phil Moulton said:
“We were so happy and very grateful to greet over 100 folks into the art and gift gallery. This is the third downtown event bringing locals together. The more we support local shops the more new shops will have the courage to join in.”
This sense of momentum and community support was echoed across the entire Cocoa Crawl route.
❤️ What the Community Had to Say
One of the most meaningful parts of the evening was hearing directly from residents who took part in the Cocoa Crawl for the first time.
Saundra Feighner shared:
“I attended the Ravenswood River Lights Night and Cocoa Crawl with my adult son Saturday night. We had an amazing time, met fantastic new friends, and visited shops we will now frequent, as well as enjoyed hot cocoa along the way. I look forward to attending more events like this one. Great family fun in a beautiful town.”
Longtime residents and newer community members alike found moments of connection and discovery all evening long.
🏨 A Warm Welcome at Ravenswood Inn
Many attendees highlighted the hospitality they found at local businesses, including the beautifully renovated and historic Ravenswood Inn.
Resident Noella Quist reflected:
“The owners of Ravenswood Inn, Steve and Sabrina, were most welcoming.… We enjoyed learning a little bit of the town history. Having made Ravenswood our home for the past 5 years, we enjoyed learning that little bit of the town history.”
Visitors were treated not only to salted caramel cocoa, but to stories and memorabilia from the Inn’s century-long history.
🍱 Local Restaurants Felt the Impact Too
The Cocoa Crawl wasn’t just festive — it genuinely supported small businesses.
Svitri from Inaka’s Hibachi shared:
“We thank the City of Ravenswood for organizing the Cocoa Crawl. It really benefited us as a small business because we had so many new faces coming into our small place and getting to know our foods. We feel the impact right away by getting busier than usual.… Thank you again to the City of Ravenswood and our community for supporting Inaka Hibachi and Sushi.”
🛍️ Businesses Are Already Looking Forward to Next Year
Several participating stops asked if the Cocoa Crawl would return next season — and with turnout like this, the excitement is unmistakable.
Megan Tierney from JCD Bargains & Trading said:
“We had a wonderful turnout at JCD Bargain and Trade. Can’t wait for next year’s Cocoa Crawl!”
And Heather Santee of Santee Sweets added:
“Taking part in the Cocoa Crawl felt like sprinkling a little extra magic into the neighborhood. We loved watching Santee Sweets fill with warm mugs, big smiles, and just the right amount of cocoa-fueled joy.”
🎄 A Night to Remember
Between the hot cocoa, holiday flavors, festive decorations, live tree lighting, and the golf cart shuttle that helped visitors travel easily between stops, our first Cocoa Crawl created memories that will last long past the holiday season.
We want to thank every business owner, every volunteer, every visitor, and every family who came downtown to celebrate with us. Events like this only happen because our community shows up — and because our local businesses pour their hearts into creating something special.
Stay tuned for even more holiday happenings and new events coming to Downtown Ravenswood.
We can’t wait to make next year’s Cocoa Crawl even bigger and better!
