Holiday Themed Bars Are Popping Up All Over Colorado!

Christmas-heads, prepare yourselves for the coming of no less than nine holiday-themed bars this season around Denver — and another in Colorado Springs, just in case you find the local options lacking.

From now through the holidays, you’ll have your pick of pop-up bars. Fans of the European Christmas market tradition can even head to a new outdoor plaza bar coming to Union Station.

For the most over-the-top Christmas experience, check out the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Camp Christmas installation and Santa Bar at Stanley Marketplace in Aurora.

Or for a holiday drink with views, there will be rooftop holiday parties with alcohol served from a decked-out Airstream at the new Edgewater Public Market.

Four Miracle Bars will serve up Christmas decor — and cheer — all over Colorado this year, from Larimer Square to Highland, Arvada and down to Colorado Springs. A lower-key celebration will light up The Ramble Hotel’s hidden-away mezzanine bar.

Death & Co’s Holiday Suite

Nov. 21-Dec. 28

For those who want just a little holiday buzz, the swanky lobby bar at The Ramble Hotel is serving Christmas movie-themed cocktails in a low-lit setting in its upstairs, mezzanine level Suite 6A. The pop-up will include drinks like the Filthy Animal made with red wine, brandy, amaro, pomegranate, orange and cinnamon.

1280 25th St., 5 p.m.-close Thursday through Saturday, walk-in only, deathandcompany.com

Camp Christmas at The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace

Nov. 21-Jan. 5

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and creator Lonnie Hanzon bring a 10,000-square-foot immersive art installation this season to The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace. Santa Bar will provide both boozy and non-alcoholic drinks to keep spirits high while you explore the exhibit and snap some “elfie selfies” (their words).

2501 Dallas St., Aurora, starting at 10 a.m. daily, tickets from $8-$21 at denvercenter.org

Miracle Bar(s) Denver

Nov. 27-Late December

Three whole Miracle Bars will pop-up around Denver this year — one in Larimer Square, one at Avanti and one inside the Arvada Tavern. Avanti’s is the same as last year, located upstairs at the Highland food hall in the indoor-outdoor Wolf Bar.

RELATED: This year, Colorado gets a whopping four Miracle Christmas pop-up bars

In Larimer Square, the pop-up has taken over the former home of Milk & Honey Bar. This will be the biggest of the three this season, with room for nearly 150 Christmas fanatics.

And in Arvada, the Tavern’s second-floor speakeasy (enter through the phone booth) will transform into a tiki bar called Sippin’ Santa. Go here for tropical drinks with a holly-jolly vibe.

1414 Larimer St., 3200 N. Pecos St. and 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada’ 5 p.m.-midnight Sundays and weekdays and until 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Walk-ins and reservations accepted, miracledenver.com

Roger’s Liquid Oasis (on the rooftop) at Edgewater Public Market

Nov. 29-Late December

The newest Denver food hall is transforming its rooftop into a holiday liquid oasis, Airstream trailer and all. The team behind downtown’s Brass Tacks will whip up eggnog, spiked hot cocoa, mulled wine and more against a backdrop of twinkling lights and the downtown skyline. Also, look out for a honky-tonk holiday party featuring Neon Moon on Dec. 8.

5505 W 20th Ave., Edgewater, rooftop bar opening at 2 p.m. daily (weather permitting), edgewaterpublicmarket.com

Holiday Putt Club at Punch Bowl Social Stapleton

Nov. 29-Dec.31

At Punch Bowl Social Stapleton, mini golfers can sip on adult (or N/A) beverages while playing 18 holes. The course is decorated with giant snow globes and life-sized candy canes this season. And the snack shack will serve drinks like Jingle Bell Rock N Rye, Pink Bunny Suit and Golden Age of Garland. See also hot buttered teas, hot chocolate and toasty snacks.

3120 N. Uinta St., 5-9 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, golf $10 for adults and $6 for kids 12 and under, punchbowlsocial.com

Miracle Bar Colorado Springs

Nov. 29-Jan. 1

The Miracle franchise makes its way south this year with Christmapolitans, Run Run Rudolphs and SanTaRex cocktails served from inside the Allusion Speakeasy space. The season starts out with an ugly sweater party on Dec. 2 and continues with more maybe-embarrassing opportunities to make memories through the New Year.

323 N. Tejon St. (inside Rooster’s House of Ramen), Colorado Springs, 6 p.m.-midnight Wednesday through Saturday, allusionbar.com 

Union Station’s Holiday on the Plaza

Nov. 30-Jan. 1

New to Union Station’s holiday lineup this year is an outdoor lounge serving festive cocktails and featuring a cookie-decorating station, direct-to-Santa mailbox and occasional carolers. Union Station’s Grand Illumination celebration takes place Nov. 29, and the plaza lounge opens the next day.

Wynkoop and 17th Streets, 3-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, unionstationindenver.com

White Claw Winter Wonderland at Viewhouse Ballpark

Dec. 1-Feb. 1

This season, Viewhouse Ballpark is gifting us not one but two months of a White Claw-themed pop-up bar that no one could have wished for this Christmas. The White Claw “specialty menu” includes $6 Claws, $7 White Claw holiday cocktails and $25 buckets of Claw. Check with Viewhouse on their social media for specific event dates and details.

2015 Market St., 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday facebook.com/events/425219178168984/

Sleigher pop-up at American Bonded and Occidental

Dec. 1-Dec. 31 (American Bonded) and Dec. 1-Dec. 23 (Occidental)

For a harder edged, heavy-metal holiday, go for a drink at either American Bonded in RiNo or Occidental in Highland. The two businesses run by revered local barman Sean Kenyon are stepping up to fill in that niche of a hardcore Christmas celebration. Occidental ends the party a little earlier in December to host a Harry Potter Christmas event on Dec. 25 and 26.

2706 Larimer St. and 1950 W. 32nd Ave., 303-942-1201 and 720-536-8318, americanbonded.com and occidentalbar.com

Polar Bear Express pop-up at Señor Bear

Dec. 2-Jan. 1

The Latin American restaurant (that just opened an offshoot in RiNo) is turning into a winter wonderland for the month of December. You’ll have your choice of hot buttered rums, eggnogs, spiced ciders and seasonal shot skis to take with friends. And on Dec. 21, a Naughty or Nice holiday party will trade you shots for a donated (new) toy. That night you can also take photos with Santa Claus.

3301 Tejon St., 720-572-5997, senorbeardenver.com 

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A Guide To Colorado Wildflowers

More than 3,200 species of wildflowers bloom in Colorado. Here is your guide to seeing them all.

Getting up close and personal with Colorado’s summer splendor means using your own two feet. There are, of course, plenty of classic wildflower hikes, such as the East Inlet Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park and the traverse from Aspen to Crested Butte (or vice versa) over West Maroon Pass. But with a goal of expanding your floral horizons, consider visiting these five areas of the state that bloom especially bright this month.

Crested Butte

Hikers don’t just encounter mule’s ear, lupine, and larkspur in Colorado’s Wildflower Capital—they wade through them. The proliferation of shale soil, a high number of pollinators, and decent moisture combine to produce flowers that can grow head-high. Michelle Bivens, executive director of the annual Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, recommends Dark Canyon Trail, a moderate 13.8-mile (one way) route through the Raggeds Wilderness north of Kebler Pass; the sunflower-lined, 4.3-mile (round trip) Brush Creek Trail; and Deer Creek Trail’s diverse array of flowers, which can be seen during a 6.9-mile (round trip) out-and-back hike.

Summit County

When the snow clears from the I-70 corridor, it reveals acres of Crayola-colored meadows. Shrine Mountain Trail (4.2 miles, round trip) takes flower chasers gradually up from Vail Pass, past pine forests and meadows abundant with wildflowers, to its namesake peak. Another worthy option is Dillon’s Herman Gulch Trail, which follows part of the Continental Divide Trail; the 6.6-mile (round trip) route gains about 1,600 feet as it winds past blossoming fields on its way to Herman Lake. Flatlanders—or those wanting to give their calves a break—will enjoy the columbines and easy ambling along Lower Cataract Loop Trail near Silverthorne, a mostly flat two-mile loop.

Eastern Plains

It’s become a Colorado axiom: To avoid the crowds, head east. That adage holds true for wildflower seekers. There, the colorful displays sit in startling contrast to peculiar rock formations. The popular Pawnee Buttes Trail leads hikers to the two 300-foot-tall buttes, which rise out of the verdure of Pawnee National Grassland, northeast of Greeley. The tranquil four-mile (round trip) trail is peppered with yellow-hued mountain bladderpod and various species of milk vetch. Picket Wire Canyon, outside of La Junta, provides a lengthy day of western wallflower and purple prairie vervain viewing—it’s an 11.3-mile round-trip hike—but the limited elevation gain balances out the distance.

Western Slope

The hills surrounding Grand Junction and Fruita are awash in Mother Nature’s color palette. Though the blooms typically peak in July, there are still sights to see among the region’s rugged sandstone cliffs later in the summer. You’ll need to shuttle a car ahead of time (to either the Lower Monument or Coke Ovens trailheads) so you’re able to get home after the roughly six-mile Monument Canyon Trail through-hike, which switchbacks past pink northern sweet vetch, mountain mahogany, and a whole lot of semidesert shrubs. Although we prefer to bike atop the 10,500-foot-tall Grand Mesa, the meadows and hiking trails off Highway 65 are just as enjoyable on foot.

Flat Tops Wilderness

At 230,830 acres, the Flat Tops Wilderness can seem too vast to select just one destination for finding flowers. But there’s something special about Trappers Lake, which has a shoreline loop—about 5.3 miles—that takes hikers by patches of fireweed, rosy paintbrush, and goldeneye. Flower lovers should also take the mile-long spur path up to Little Trappers Lake, where colorful fireweed has proliferated after the Big Fish fire 16 years ago. At 15.7 miles, the East Fork Trail is a solid backpacking option lined with blue columbines and sunflowers.

Around Town

There’s no need to travel far to revel in the wildflowers this summer: See them bloom at these five easily accessible venues closer to home.

At Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms in Littleton, view more than 40 species of wildflowers, such as black-eyed Susan and golden columbine, in the Carol Gossard Native Plant Garden.
Bonus: The venue hosts Wednesday Hikes with the Gardens—weekly excursions in the foothills (sometimes, but not always, wildflower-focused) that are led by on-staff horticulturists.

At Kendrick Lake Park in Lakewood, view native and nonnative species—including sunset hyssop and Mexican hat—in the vibrant xeriscape demonstration gardens.

At Roxborough State Park (just 25 miles south of Denver), view Indian paintbrush and prairie coneflower in a 3,300-acre “transition zone,” an ecological area where flowers that typically grow far from one another are able to sprout much closer together, creating a colorful tapestry.

At Red Rock Canyon Open Space outside of Colorado Springs, view mariposa lilies, milk vetch, and golden banners from the mostly easy trails weaving through the 1,474-acre park.

At the Aurora Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, view more than 300 water-wise plants, such as Vera Jameson stonecrop and baby blue rabbitbrush.
Bonus: Free xeriscaping classes are offered at the garden every summer.

(Flower) Power Walks

Five other hikes on our summer bucket list.
1. Bob and Betty Lakes Trail 
Nearest town: Winter Park Length: 12 miles, round trip
2. Williams Creek Trail 
Nearest town: Pagosa Springs
Length: About six miles, round trip (a creek three miles in is your turn-around point)
3. Devil’s Thumb Trail to Jasper Lake via Devil’s Thumb Bypass 
Nearest town: Nederland
Length: Nine miles, round trip
4. Three Island Lake Trail
Nearest town: Clark
Length: 7.1 miles, round trip
5. Blue Lake Trail 
Nearest town: Fort Collins
Length: 10 miles, round trip

For more ways to hike, bike, and drive to explore the Colorado wildflowers, visit 5280.

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