Christmas pop-up bars are already taking reservations
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Kansas City bars are trading their usual look for Christmas trees, twinkle lights and holiday cocktails this season, and some are already taking reservations.
Why it matters: The most popular pop-ups sell out weeks before Christmas, so waiting until after Thanksgiving could leave you on the outside looking in.
✨ Five spots, one theme
Twinkle takes over five metro restaurants starting Nov. 9, including Blue Moose in Lenexa, Stroud's in Overland Park and O'Dowd's near the Plaza.
- There's no entrance fee, it's open to all ages, and a portion of proceeds goes to Children's Mercy.
🍺 Christmas on tap
Martin City Brewing Company decks out all eight of its locations, from Lee's Summit to Lenexa, for Big Christmas from Nov. 12 to Dec. 29.
- Expect wall-to-wall decorations, festive cocktails, hot cocoa and seasonal bites.
🎄 A Lee's Summit tradition
The Magic Tree pop-up bar at Paragon Star opens Nov. 24 at 5:30pm, in time for the annual tree lighting, and stays open through Christmas Eve.
- The bar hosts holiday trivia nights, and the Magic Tree Foundation partners with Operation Toy Soldier to support military families over the holidays.
🤠 Honky-tonk holidays
Faulkner's Ranch in south KC turns its event barn into Jolly: A Country Christmas from Nov. 25 to Dec. 27. The ranch pitches it as a Hallmark Christmas movie that wandered into a Nashville honky-tonk.
- Reservations cost $20 a person for two hours, and it's 21 and older.
🎁 A Christmas cult classic
Miracle, the national Christmas cocktail bar chain, returns to the Rockhill Grille in the Crossroads from Nov. 26 to Dec. 26.
- Last year's version featured Santa-shaped mugs, wrapping-paper walls and giant ornaments hanging overhead.
🏈 Chiefs Christmas at Arrowhead
Kingdom's Greetings opens Nov. 27 on the stadium's fourth floor, which the Chiefs describe as a holiday village where everything glows red and gold. A new light and music show spills into the stadium bowl every 90 minutes.
- Select holiday drinks come in take-home souvenir cups, and 90-minute reservations cost $27 to $32 a person.
- It's 21 and older and closed on Chiefs home game days.
- This event sold out the day reservations opened last year.
🥃 Old-school downtown
Providence New American Kitchen inside the Hilton President becomes An Old Fashioned Christmas from Nov. 27 to Dec. 23, with vintage holiday decor and a seasonal cocktail menu.
- Reservations cost $5, and parking is cash only at $15 on weekdays and $25 on weekends.
🚂 After hours at Union Station
Tinsel & 'Tinis turns the Holiday Reflections village adults-only for four nights starting Dec. 5, with holiday cocktails among towering Christmas trees and giant mirrored ornaments.
- Tickets cost $26 before fees, and drinks are extra.
- Late-night tickets drop to $15 for guests who arrive between 10pm and 11pm.
The bottom line: Most of these open Thanksgiving week, so pick your spot now.