PHOTO COURTESY OF RITUAL HOUSE

The best way to get into the holiday spirit is to get a holiday spirit into you! Hit up one (or all!) of these festive pop-ups for creative cocktails and mocktails, Clark Griswold-caliber decorations and a whole lot of holly-jolliness. It’s up to you whether you want to be naughty or nice.

The Commoner Winter Warm-Up

Downtown, Mellon Square 

The Commoner Winter Warm-Up will pop up at Mellon Square on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Saturday Dec. 21 starting at 5 p.m. Guests can eat sweets and sip holiday-inspired mocktails and cocktails under the lights of Aurora: Illuminating the Holiday Magic, a new light installation by local artist Joshua Challen Ice.

Guests can raise a glass of Challen Ice, a beverage featuring Beefeater gin, Crème de menthe, Domaine De Canton, allspice dram, and coconut milk, while listening live music by Nick Guckert Pittsburgh legends Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers.

Shorty’s 

North Shore, 343 N. Shore Dr.

West Homestead, 244 W. Bridge St.

Through Dec. 29, Shorty’s Pins x Pints on the North Shore and Shorty’s Tap x Taco at the Waterfront will look more like Kris Kringle’s HQ.

Shorty’s Santa Shop features festive décor, immersive areas, seasonal cocktails and delicious dishes such as a Pig in a Blanket Wreath served with pub mustard. Shorty’s is partnering with the Foster Love Project to host a bag drive supporting the organization’s mission to help children entering foster care. Guests who donate a new bag will receive a $20 Shorty’s gift card. North Shore hours of operation are noon to midnight Monday through Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday. Waterfront hours are noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, noon to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Bob’s Garage

Blawnox, 1372 Freeport Road

Bob’s been decking the halls of his “garage” with a garish amount of lights and tinsel long before Instagram selfies were a thing. The grandfather of the festive fad is still going as strong, with drinks to match.

ShuBrew

Zelienople, 210 S. Main St.

Go on a Hawaiian holiday at ShuBrew in Zelie. The brewery’s Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Pop-Up Tiki Bar brings all the magic of the tropics to Butler County starting on Nov. 29 from 5 to 11 p.m.

Barry’s Pub

McCandless, 9566 Perry Highway

Barry Christmas! This suburban restaurant and bar is now open for yuletide merriment every day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Miracle on 7th

Downtown, 130 Seventh St.

Starting Nov. 22, you can experience a Miracle on 6th daily from 4 p.m. to midnight through New Year’s Eve.

Rugger’s Pub

South Side, 40 S. 22nd St.

You don’t have to play rugby to experience Good Cheer at Rugger’s Pub, but it helps if you like Iron City, n’at. The beer-fueled fun starts on Nov. 29 and runs through Jan. 1. The bar’s open daily from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The Industrialist Hotel

Downtown, 405 Wood St.

Starting at 5 p.m. daily from Nov. 23 through Dec. 31, the second floor of The Industrialist Hotel will transform into a retro holiday cocktail lounge where you can sip while surrounded by pink and silver Christmas trees.

Pittsburgh Marriott North

Cranberry, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive

Get Elf’d Up from 5 p.m. to midnight Dec. 5-7 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North. The lobby level of the hotel will be decked out in holiday cheer. Admission to this adults-only event is $10, with all ticket proceeds going to The Lighthouse Foundation, which provides essential services for individuals and families in Allegheny and Butler counties.

Eliza, A Hot Metal Bistro

Oakland, 331 Technology Drive

Snowflakes and Spirits start flying at the Hotel Indigo on Nov. 23 and will keep swirling through February. Enjoy winter cocktails, food and a flurry of photo opportunities.

Ritual House

524 William Penn Place

One of 2023’s Best New Restaurants is getting into the holiday action with an Aprés-Ski Winter Pop-Up from 5 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 30. Festivities start across the street at Aurora in Mellon Square Park, a new large-scale light installation. The party continues in the Ritual House Lotus Room, a new private dining space that has been transformed into a luxe lodge for the evening. Tickets are available online. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

Penn Brewery

North Side, 800 Vinial St.

Penn Brewery’s owner is from Austria, where Krampus has been feared (and celebrated) for ages. The North Side institution will host Krampus Fest from 6 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 5, with Sleigher, a holiday-themed heavy metal band, providing the tunes. The following evening, there will be a firkin-tapping of St. Nikolaus Bock Brewer’s Reserve at 6 p.m. The jolly, old elf will do the honors himself, alongside the aptly named head brewer Chris Rudolph. On Dec. 8 the brewery will host a Santa Brunch consisting of prime rib, an omelet bar and more.

Krampuslauf in Market Square

Downtown, Market Square

In cooperation with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Krampus and his cronies are coming back to Market Square at 6 p.m. on Dec. 5. If the child-eating goat-man isn’t your bag, feel free to come dressed as other Old World holiday mascots, including Mari llyd, Yule Cat, Frau Perchta, Belsnickel, Hans Trapp, Jólasveinar or Tomte Nisse.

Invisible Man Brewing

Greensburg, 112 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

“You serious, Clark?”

Yep. That there’s a Cousin Eddie Christmas Pop-Up Bar at Invisible Man Brewing. Everybody’s favorite dickie-wearin’ worm farmer takes center stage from 5 to 10 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through the New Year. Gas up the RV, throw on a bathrobe and stop by for nostalgic holiday decor and crafted cocktails. It’s a 21-and-over celebration, so find a babysitter for Rocky and Ruby Sue.

A Noel Nightmare on Butler Street

Lawrenceville, 5121 Butler St.

Not ready to let go of Halloween? A Noel Nightmare on Butler Street puts a spooky twist on the holiday season. The eerie event starts on Nov. 29 and runs through New Year’s Day on the upper floor of Remedy Bar. It will operate daily from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with Remedy’s bar slinging drinks from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 4 p.m to 2 a.m.