The ultimate guide to Wichita’s 2025 holiday pop-up bars
Festive fact: There are more new holiday pop-up bars operating in Wichita this year than there were holiday pop-up bars total last year.
The trend — bars and restaurants fill their interiors with lights and decor, create a menu of holiday-themed food and drink, then invite the masses in for merriment — started about four years ago in Wichita and has slowly gained steam each December since.
But this year, pop-up bars are more plentiful than ever, and a long list of bars, breweries and restaurants have just decided to join in, including Nortons Brewing Company and The Hopping Gnome.
Here’s a guide to who’s offering what— and how to make reservations.
NEW THIS YEAR
Nortons Brewing Company’s Tinsel Town
Where: Nortons Brewing Company, 125 N. St. Francis
What: This brewery has turned its whole interior into an explosion of lights and holiday decor. Not only has the brewery created some special holiday beers and cocktails (including one served in a “Christmas Story” leg lamp glass customers get to keep), but it's also serving holiday snacks. Nortons’ pop-up is also where Wichita can find “shot skis,” a phenomenon in which several shots of alcohol are placed along a snow ski and three to four people tip the ski back and shoot them simultaneously.
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When: Through Dec. 31: 3 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
Reservations: Not accepted: Seats are first-come, first-served
Also: Nortons’ outdoor beer garden is once again filled with igloos for rent. See details at nortonsbrewing.com/garden-igloos/
Wichita Marriott’s Mistletoe & Martinis Holiday Pop-Up
Where: Room 9100 inside the Wichita Marriott, 9100 Corporate Hills Drive
What: The hotel has transformed its cocktail lounge into “the ultimate holiday hideaway,” filling it with more than 4,000 lights and adding a holiday menu of cocktails and food specials.
When: 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays through December
Reservations: Not necessary, but seating is limited. Must be 21 to enter.
Gnome for the Holidays Pop-Up Bar
Where: Hopping Gnome Brewing Company, 1710 E. Douglas
What: This local brewery has joined the holiday pop-up bar fray by turning its original tap room on Douglas into a decorated holiday hangout and serving special holiday beers and cocktails.
When: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 3. Reservations are available for 90-minute increments from 4 to 10 p.m. Walk-ins will be seated only if space is available. Must be 21.
Reservations: Reserve a spot at hopping-gnome-brewing.resos.com/booking
Mort’s Yuletide Lounge
Where: Mort’s Martini Bar, 923 E. First St.
What: Mort’s has decorated for the holidays and is serving seasonal cocktails and martinis.
When: Open through Jan. 4
Reservations: Not necessary
The Depot’s Candy Land
Where: Upstairs at The Depot, 711 E. Douglas
What: The staff at this Old Town restaurant has transformed its upper level into a Candyland-themed bar offering Christmas cocktails and holiday games.
When: Through December 31; 11 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Saturdays and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Reservations: Candy Land’s calendar is already filled with lots of reservations, but people can reach out through the events tab on The Depot’s website, wichitadepot.com/contact-10, to check availability. (The downstairs section of The Depot also is decorated and doesn’t require a reservation.)
The Hudson’s St. Nick’s Lounge
Where: The Hudson, an event venue at 427 S. St. Francis
What: This event venue isn’t normally open to the public, but this year, it’s offering a new pop-up bar featuring holiday lights, specialty drinks and a DJ,
When: The bar will be open to the public Dec. 5, Dec. 7, Dec. 13-14; Dec. 18-20; and Dec. 26-28. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays, 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon-6 p.m. on Sundays.
Reservations: No
Wonderland at Point Nine
Where: Point Nine, 1539 N. Andover Road, Andover
What: This new trail-side bar and restaurant in Andover has covered its inside and outside areas with glowing Christmas lights and decor. It’s offering holiday-themed cocktails as well as s’mores by the fire pit and hot chocolate.
When: Reservations are available from 11 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. through Dec. 30 except on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Reservations: Make them at pointninetrailside.com/wonderland-at-point-nine
Christmas Pop Up at Timbuktu
Where: Timbuktu Bar & Grill, 1251 N Andover Road, Andover
What: This longtime bar and grill in Andover has gone completely Christmas: The walls, booths and ceiling are covered in lights, tinsel and decor, and there’s a life-sized Santa that greets customers.
When: Timbuktu is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; from 11 a.m. to midnight Thursdays through Saturdays; and from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sundays. The bar hasn’t determined how long it will leave the decor up.
Reservations: Not taken. Customers should just pop in and enjoy the scenery.
RETURNING FOR 2025
Miracle on Mosley Street
Where: River City Brewing Company 150 N. Mosley
What: River City’s popular pop-up, a tradition since 2023, returns this season. As usual, the brewery is positively covered, both inside and out, with lights and lots of decor. New this year is an operating toy train that choo-choos above the bar. Visitors can order from a holiday-inspired menu and enjoy seasonal beers and cocktails. There’s also a section of the bar called The Tipsy Penguin that will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are required to sit in the area, which will serve beer and cocktails only.
When: Daily through Dec. 31, all ages.
Reservations: It can be hard to get a spot at this one, and reservations are highly recommended. Parties of 12 or fewer can get reservations for 90 minutes. Reservations must be made online at rivercitybrewingco.com/miracle-on-mosely-street
The Jingle at Public at the Brickyard
Where: 129 N. Rock Island
What: Public at the Brickyard is also entering its third year of popping up for the holidays, and the staff has once again filled the inside and patio of the restaurant with glowing decor and lots of Santas. The bar is also offering a holiday cocktail menu and live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to midnight.
When: Through Jan. 4: Reservations are available in 90-minute increments for parties of 12 or fewer. Food will be served nightly until 10 p.m., and cocktails will be served until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Kids are welcome, but the pop-up is open only to ages 21 and over after 11 p.m.
Reservations: Make them at publicbrickyard.com/the-jingle/
Holiday Hideaway at Chicken N Pickle
Where: Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich
What: This pickleball venue has been putting on a pop-up bar for the past four years, and 2025 will mark its third time offering “Holiday Hideaway,” which features a mountain lodge experience, complete with twinkling holiday lights, comfortable seating and festive cocktails. It’s open to ages 21 and over. Reservations are $5 a person, and the venue can accommodate parties of two, three, four or six people.
When: The pop-up is open daily through Dec. 31 except for Christmas day. Reservations are recommended, and visitors get two-hour time slots.
Reservations: www.reservecnp.com/holiday-hideaway/wichita/
Also: Chicken N Pickle also has holiday igloos for rent in two-hour blocks daily through Dec. 31, except on Christmas day. People can choose between family-friendly and 21-and-over igloos. Check availability and make reservations at www.reservecnp.com/holiday-hideaway/wichita/
Whoville at Ziggy’s
Where: The Hideout bar attached to Ziggy’s Pizza, 3700 E. Douglas
When: Through Dec. 31; 5 to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays
What: Ziggy’s Clifton Square location will revive the Dr. Seuss-inspired pop-up bar experience it has set up since 2021 in The Hideout, the little building just to the south of Ziggy’s main entrance. The bar will once again have Christmas decor, festive lights and holiday-themed cocktails.
Reservations: The bar does not take reservations.
Also: All four local Ziggy’s restaurants also are again setting up their “Zigloo” igloos outside. They’re available to reserve in two-hour blocks for a rental fee of $20 to $30 and are open to parties of at least six. Get more information and make reservations at www.ziggyswichita.com
Sparky’s at Larcher’s Market
Where: Larcher’s Market, 3555 E. Douglas
When: Open 5-10 p.m. through Dec. 31.
What: One of Wichita’s OG holiday pop-up bars is Sparky’s, named in honor of Chevy Chase’s character in “Christmas Vacation.” The bar returns this year with festive cocktails, special snacks and lots of holiday decor, including a fragile-looking leg lamp.
Reservations: People can reserve spots at the bar in 90-minute increments for parties of 2-12 at tables.hostmeapp.com/restaurants/38330
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 12:13 PM.
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