Christmas pop-up bars popping up all over Wichita with Clark Griswold, Harry Potter flair
Just like Santa, they’re here, they’re jolly, and then they’re gone.
They’re Christmas pop-up bars, and they’re popping up all over Wichita this holiday season.
The temporary bars, all attached to existing restaurants, exist only for the holiday season and then disappear. This year, they have themes ranging from Harry Potter to Clark Griswold. One even perfectly recreates a snowy mountain ski lodge.
Here are four Christmas pop-up bars being offered this season in the Wichita area:
Sparky’s at The Belmont, 3555 E. Douglas: The Belmont’s cocktail expert Becky Reynolds came up with the idea for this holiday-themed bar, which opened Dec. 8 and will run at least through the start of January. It’s taken over The Flower Shop, which is the waiting area/cocktail lounge that operates out of a former flower shop space just to the east of The Belmont’s entrance. Though the space, which has two levels, hip furnishings and its own bar, is typically reserved only for those on the waiting list for a seat at The Belmont, while it serves as Sparky’s, it’ll be open to anyone 21 and over.
Reynolds spent about three weeks transforming the space, which is now filled with lights, Christmas trees and a section of ceiling covered in ornaments and wrapped gifts. There’s a simulated fireplace crackling on a giant television set, and a “fra-gi-le” leg lamp like the one seen in the film “A Christmas Story” glows on the second-level window. Best of all, ole Sparky himself (that was the nickname Chevy Chase’s character in “Christmas Vacation” was given by his wife) greets people right at the entrance in the form of a life-size cutout.
Reynolds has also created a menu of four holiday-themed cocktails visitors can enjoy. The pop-up bar will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays as well as on Sundays and from 5 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Those who want to make a reservation for the bar can do so by calling The Belmont at 316-477-3555.
Snowbound at Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich: The restaurant and entertainment venue has been running its Christmas pop-up bar, meant to recreate the experience of a cozy ski lodge, in its rooftop seating area since before Thanksgiving. It features lots of lights, a gondola photo booth, and ski lodge decor as well as a menu of eight holiday cocktails and some light appetizers.
Snowbound is open from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, from 5 to 11:45 p.m. Fridays, from 2:45 to 11:45 p.m. Saturdays and from 2:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Sundays. Visitors are required to make reservations in two hour time-slots at popupcnp.com. Reservations are available through early January and entry costs $5 a person Sundays through Wednesdays, $10 a person Thursdays through Saturdays.
Apparition: Yule Ball at Headshots, 2120 N. Woodlawn: This business in Brittany Center has been putting on a series of seasonal pop-up bars since Halloween 2020. Its 2021 Christmas offering recreates the famous Yule Ball from the Harry Potter books. (The ball was famously featured in 2017’s “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”)
The pop-up bar, which opened on Dec. 2, features special themed cocktails and is open 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through Jan. 1.
Ziggy’s Christmas Pop Up Bar, 3700 E. Douglas: Right across the street from The Belmont is Ziggy’s, which has its own holiday pop-up bar experience set up in The Hideout, which opened in 2019 in the little building just to the south of Ziggy’s main entrance.
The bar, which opened on Dec. 1 and will stay open through Dec. 31, features “way over the top Christmas decor,” plus Christmas-inspired cocktails. It will also be home on Dec. 18 to an event called “Tap The Cheer,” which invites people to visit the bar dressed in their most ridiculous holiday outfits. The bar is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays.
This story was originally published December 8, 2021 at 9:40 AM.
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