Tis the season! I have compiled a list of holiday themed pop-up experiences throughout the city of Pittsburgh for this year’s holiday season. This list includes bars, light shows & other experiences suitable for adults & families.
Wigle Wonderland @ Wigle Whiskey Strip District
What: Wigle Whiskey’s Distillery & Taproom in the Strip District is hosting a holiday-themed pop-up in their tasting event space.
Location: Wigle Whiskey Distillery, 2401 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Hours: 7pm – Midnight
Days Open: Thursday – Saturday; November 18 – End of Holiday Season
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket or entry cost
Is There Food? : The pop-up bar does not have food, but the main taproom has a food menu.
Family Friendly? : Keep the kiddos at home for this one. Wigle’s pop-up is for 21+ only.
Merry Little Christmas @ Renaissance Hotel
What: Merry Little Christmas is a vintage holiday pop-up bar inside the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. The pop-up is inside the Braddock’s Rebellion hotel bar.
Location: Renaissance Hotel, 107 6th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Hours: 5pm – Midnight
Days Open: December 1 – January 7
Ticket Needed/Cost: No tickets or reservations needed!
Is There Food? : There is a limited food menu available featuring French dip sliders, crab & artichoke dip, deviled eggs with horseradish pickle relish, and bread pudding with nutmeg vanilla anglaise.
Family Friendly? : Due to the nature of the bar, this is for adults only!
Apres Ski @ Butcher and the Rye
What: Apres Ski is a ski lodge inspired pop-up artisanal cocktail lounge in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Location: Butcher and the Rye, 212 6th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Hours: 6pm – 1am
Days Open: Fridays & Saturdays only; December 1 – End of Season
Ticket Needed/Cost: No tickets or reservations needed, but the bar is small so plan accordingly.
Is There Food? : Sadly, not this year.
Family Friendly? : This bar is a 21+ affair only.
Home Alone Pop-Up Bar @ Barcadia
What: While in Market Square, stop by Barcadia’s second floor to see it transformed into a holiday wonderland. Complete with the typical arcade games & photo booth, plus festive tunes & cocktails, Barcadia will be a must-stop on your downtown holiday crawl.
Location: Barcadia, 24 Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Hours: Monday – Thursday 4pm-11pm, Friday 4pm-1am (DJ 9-1am), Kitchen open until midnight, Saturday 11am-1am (DJ 9-1am), Kitchen open until midnight, Sunday 11am-10pm
Days Open: Open daily
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket needed, just cost of drinks, food & arcade games.
Is There Food? : Yes! Order from their online food and appetizer menu.
Family Friendly? : As an arcade, Barcadia welcomes kiddos during the day to play all sorts of games, but after 8pm Barcadia becomes 21+ only.
Sewickley Sleigh @ Sewickley Quarter
What: A festive pop-up bar at the Sewickley Quarter event venue’s back Sidecar Bar. Sewickley Sleigh opens the night of Sewickley Light Up Night!
Location: Sewickley Quarter, 545 Beaver St, Sewickley, PA 15143
Hours: December 1: 4pm – 10pm, All other dates: 5pm – 9pm
Days Open: December 1-2, 7, 9, 14-15, 21-23
Ticket Needed/Cost : No ticket or entry fee.
Is There Food? : The full restaurant menu is available to order. You can see the menu by clicking here!
Family Friendly? : The bar itself is most suitable for ages 21+, but on December 2 Sewickley Quarter is hosting Santa at the Quarter. This event is free entry for all and will feature live holiday music, family holiday mini photos, balloon animals, breakfast with Santa & more!
Zoo Lights @ Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
What: Pittsburgh Zoo’s annual lights show! Drive thru and walk thru dates available. Animals will not be out during this event.
Location: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, 7370 Baker St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Hours: Drive thru experience: 5:15 – 9:45pm with drive time ~30 minutes; Walk thru experience: 5:30 – 9:30pm with walk time lasting as long as you’d like!
Days Open: November 24 – December 30; special walk-thru nights on December 15, 16, 22 & 23
Ticket Needed/Cost: You will need to buy a ticket for this experience. You can purchase tickets here. $45 per vehicle for drive thru experience & $18 per adult $15 per child for walk thru experience.
Is There Food? : Food and drinks will be available for credit card purchase during both the drive thru & walk thru experiences.
Family Friendly? : Yes!
Peoples Gas Holiday Market @ Market Square
What: The annual outdoor holiday market shops at Market Square downtown are back! Find trinkets, handmade goods, and thoughtful local gifts at the many shops in this German-style market!
Location: Market Square, Historic Square between Fifth Avenue and PPG Place
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11am – 8pm; Friday – Saturday: 11am – 9:30pm; Sunday: 11am – 6pm; SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS: December 22: 11am – 10pm; December 23: 11am – 10pm; December 24: 11am – 3pm
Days Open: Daily from November 17 – December 24; closed Thanksgiving Day
Ticket Needed/Cost: No tickets or cost of entry, just pay for what you buy!
Is There Food? : Hot cocoa and other treats will be for sale at some of the vendor stands & there are a lot of eateries surrounding the Market Square area from casual grab & go to sit down restaurants!
Family Friendly? : Absolutely! There will be live performers certain nights during the week and the market is nearby a lot of other family-friendly holiday activities downtown like the PPG Ice Rink.
Dazzling Nights @ Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
What: A walk-thru light show at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s outdoor space.
Location: Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, 799 Pinkerton Run Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15071
Hours: First entry at 5:30pm, last entry at 9pm. Arrive 30 minutes prior to ticketed time if using complimentary parking & shuttle. Arrive 15 minutes prior if you reserved a $15 on-site parking pass.
Days Open: November 24, 2023 – January 1, 2024; specific days of week vary by the week
Ticket Needed/Cost: Yes, a ticket is needed. Adults are $22-27 & Children are $19-24. On-site parking is an additional $15. Buy tickets online by visiting their portal. MUST BUY PRIOR TO VISIT. NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.
Is There Food? : Yes! Holiday-inspired bites and desserts will be available for purchase during your visit. Beverage tents will be serving chilled and warm seasonal beverages.
Family Friendly? : Yes! This is perfect for families, friends, dates, etc.
Santa’s Sidebar @ Luke & Mike’s Frontporch
What: Outdoor decorated side bar at Luke & Mike’s Frontporch restaurant.
Location: Luke & Mike’s Frontporch Grille, 235 Commercial Ave, Aspinwall, PA 15215
Hours: 4 – 9pm
Days Open: Wednesday – Saturday; November 1 – December 23
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket or entry fee required.
Is There Food? : Yes! Luke & Mike’s is a restaurant and has a full menu available viewable here!
Family Friendly? : You can bring your family, but this spot isn’t specifically geared towards children.
Miracle On 6th @ 137 6th Street
What: An annual holiday pop-up bar in Downtown Pittsburgh! Private party room is available and can accommodate up to 40 people with a minimum spend requirement. Large parties of 8-10 people can book a table in the main area, pending availability, Sunday – Tuesday. No reservations for the main room tables will be taken Wednesday – Saturday.
Location: 137 6th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Hours: 4pm – midnight
Days Open: November 22 – December 31; open daily
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket or entry fee.
Is There Food? : Just drinks at Miracle. Eat before you go at one of the downtown restaurants nearby!
Family Friendly? : This pop-up bar is 21+ only.
Rudolph’s Rooftop @ Il Tetto
Location: Sienna Mercato Rooftop, 942 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday 4pm – 11pm, Friday 4pm – 1am, Saturday 2pm – 1am
Days Open: Wednesday – Saturday; December 18 – End of December
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket or entry fee.
Is There Food? : No themed food menu, but Il Tetto offers the ability to order from their first and second floor restaurants, Emporio and Mezzo, for you to pick up and enjoy at Il Tetto. Hours of operation vary.
Family Friendly? : Sorry kiddos, this one is 21+.
Seasons Greenings @ Phipps Conservatory
What: Phipps is hosting their annual walk-thru of the holiday flower show at the conservatory. Plus, enjoy festive lights, decor & music in the outdoor botanical garden.
Location: Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, 1 Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Hours: Open til 10pm or 11pm daily, depending on the day of week; Open til 5pm on Christmas Eve
Days Open: November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024; open daily (closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day)
Ticket Needed/Cost: Advance ticket purchase is required for entry – buy here!
Is There Food? : Cafe Phipps has limited hours and offerings in the evenings, but the full menu (feat. a kids menu) & hours can be found here.
Family Friendly? : Yes. Phipps has one of the best displays for all ages. Between the indoor displays, photo ops & winter light garden outside, this is a great outing for the full family.
Tinseltown @ Mixtape
What: A holiday-themed pop-up bar in the Bloomfield neighborhood. Mocktails are available during all sessions. Use code FRANCESCA10 for 10% off your ticket purchased using this link!
Location: Mixtape, 4907 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Hours: various sessions with the first beginning at 1pm & the last beginning at 9:30pm depending on the day of week
Days Open: Wednesday – Sunday; November 24, 2023 – December 30, 2023
Ticket Needed/Cost: Yes, a ticket is needed for the session you plan to attend. Purchase tickets ahead of time online. Tickets are $15 per person for all sessions & gives you access to the bar for 90 minutes. The cost includes a welcome drink, additional drinks are available for purchase.
Is There Food? : No, just drinks during this 90 minute session.
Family Friendly? : Family Friendly sessions are available (no alcohol served). These are designated on the ticketing website and typically run during the afternoon sessions.
A Very Merry Pop-Up Bar @ 1781 Club
What: After the success of their Halloween pop-up, 1781 Club is hosting a festive holiday pop-up open to the public!
Location: 1781 Club, 681 Church Hill Rd, Finleyville, PA 15332
Hours: 10am – 10pm
Days Open: Tuesday – Saturday; December 2 – December 23
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket or cover charge.
Is There Food? : Yes, there will be food options as well as drink specials.
Family Friendly? : Yes!
Christmas Pop-Up Bar @ Industrialist Hotel
What: A cozy holiday pop-up bar at the second floor lounge of the downtown hotel, The Industrialist.
Location: Industrialist Hotel, 405 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222A
Hours: TBA
Days Open: November 17 – End of Season
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket needed, but space is limited due to the smaller nature of the lounge.
Is There Food? : There is no food at the pop-up, but on the first floor of the hotel you can find The Rebel Room, an American restaurant. Hours & menus can be found here.
Family Friendly? : As a hotel lounge bar, this spot is intimate and open to adults only.
Holiday Pop-Up Bar @ Lowkey Taco
What: A themed menu for the holidays at the Robinson Twp. restaurant, Lowkey Taco. $1 of each of the holiday cocktails sold will be donated to the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund through their sponsor, Howard Hanna Real Estate and Mortgage Services. Friday evenings – Sunday evenings they will have s’mores kits available for purchase to roast some marshmallows around their fire pits on the patio!
Location: Lowkey Taco, 690 Chauvet Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15275
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 9pm; Friday & Saturday: 11am – 11pm
Days Open: November 24 – February 4; open daily
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket needed. The festive menu will be available at no additional cost.
Is There Food? : Yes! The restaurant will have their normal full menu available.
Family Friendly? : Yes. Just like any other outing to Lowkey Taco, their special holiday menu will be available for you to enjoy with your kiddos. Plus the weekend s’mores kits are perfect for families!
Sippin’ Santa @ 490 Wood Street
What: A new holiday tiki bar concept downtown, put on by the Miracle Bar crew.
Location: 490 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; between McCormick & Schmick’s and Capital Grille
Hours: 5pm – midnight
Days Open: November 24 – December 31; open daily
Ticket Needed/Cost: No ticket or entry fee.
Is There Food? : Just tropical tiki drinks, no food at this bar.
Family Friendly? : Sorry, this one is 21+.
✨HAPPY HOLIDAYS🎄
The 412 Franimal 