Feeling Festive Yet? Advent Calendars, Pop-Up Bars & More to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
Plus, in local food news, Ray Ray's Hog Pit decides to downsize.
Santa-Themed Bars, Wine Advent Boxes & More to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
By Erin Edwards
The story goes that Advent calendars were created by 19th-century German Lutherans to drum up anticipation for Christmas. Though once religious in purpose, Advent calendars are now a popular secular tradition now, too—a clever way for everyone from Aldi to your local wine shop to sell small bites, sips and samples during the holidays.
As one market research expert told NPR in 2022, “Everything’s an Advent calendar now.”
While I may not be a pumpkin spice devotee, I am all about an Advent calendar—perhaps because my family had a cool one when I was a kid and Starbucks didn’t exist yet.
I also dig a holiday-themed pop-up bar, a trend that has really taken off since a Christmas pop-up bar called Miracle on Ninth Street started in 2014 in Manhattan’s East Village. Now a brand of its own with franchises around the world, the Miracle pop-up has become an annual tradition here locally at The Citizens Trust.
I know, I know, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but you’ll want to secure your Advent calendars and make your pop-up cocktail bar plans soon. We rounded up a bunch of ideas to help get you started.
Advent Calendars - Beer, Wine, Etc.
Linworth’s Aardvark Wine & Beer (2355 W. Dublin-Granville Road) is offering a 12 Days of Beer Advent Box featuring 12 cans of local craft beer in a variety of styles. All are seasonal or limited-release beers. Order now for pickup at the Linworth shop beginning Dec. 1; the deadline to pick up is Dec. 6.
Downtown’s Accent Wine (49 N. High St.) is getting in the spirit once again with its Wine Explorer’s Advent box curated by the somms at Accent and The Grape Grind. Customers can choose 12- or 24-days of wines from around the globe (packed in 6 oz bottles). Each box includes an informative booklet with wine tasting notes. Advents will be available for pickup, delivery and shipping (to select states) on Nov. 22. Order here.
Carfagna’s (1440 Gemini Place) 2025 Beer Advent Calendar is now available for pre-order, a great gift for the beer lover in your life. The Advent box includes 24 distinct craft beers from both U.S. and world breweries; it also comes with a booklet of tasting notes. Pickup is available at the Polaris market beginning Nov. 17. As of this writing, only 32 were left. Order here.
Franklinton’s Land-Grant Brewing Co. (424 W. Town St.) is offering a 12 Days of Christmas pack featuring festive, limited-release beers and one brew (a milk stout called Hibernate) that’s exclusive to the holiday 12-pack. Pre-ordering and pickup at the taproom begins today, Nov. 13. Sorry, no delivery.
As we’ve mentioned before, we love shopping at Aldi during the holidays. Aldi’s popular Advent calendars are back, including chocolate calendars for the kids and–for the grown ups–a 12 Days of Beer Calendar and even a 12 Days of Irish Cream Calendar from Connellys.
Advent Calendars - Food & Spices
The Buckeye Lady (4493 N. High St.) is planning to offer its 12 Days of Buckeyes Advent Calendar again this year. The box includes 12 scratch-made buckeye confections in a variety of flavors such as eggnog, peppermint patty and others. Details coming soon.
Mardi Gras Homemade Ice Cream (1947 Hard Road) has put together a 24-Days of Ice Cream Advent Calendar. This limited edition box from the family-owned ice cream shop includes a mix of classic and Indian-inspired flavors in 4-ounce scoops. Order here for pickup after Nov. 20.
Penzeys Spices (4455 Kenny Road) recently announced that its 2025 Advent Calendar is available, with a message celebrating diversity, equity and inclusion. The calendar includes 24 tablespoon-sized bags of spices/seasonings from around the world. Order here.
If you’ve ever had baker Michelle Kozak’s pastries, chocolates or desserts, then you know this one’s special. Once again, Kozak’s Pâtisserie Lallier is offering its amazing Advent calendars featuring a variety of pâte de fruits, honey caramels, nougat, bonbons and solid chocolates. You’ll want to jump on these soon before they sell out. The calendars will be ready for delivery 8:15 a.m.-noon on Sunday, Nov. 30; or pickup 9:45-10 a.m. outside of 3475 N. High Street in Clintonville. Choose from two different Advent calendars here.
Holiday-Themed Bars & Pop-Ups
In what’s become an annual tradition, The Bottle Shop (237 King Ave.) plans to “Bah! Humbug!” its way through December as it transforms into its curmudgeonly alter ego: Ebenezer’s. Decked out as the Victorian gothic-opposite of a cheer-filled bar, Ebenezer’s will debut Friday, Dec. 5, and run through New Year’s.
Columbus Brewing Co.’s West Side taproom recently reopened and is already decked out for Christmas. You can head to CBC’s Tracksuit Taproom (2555 Harrison Road) for the brewery’s signature spiced holiday ale, Tracksuit Santa, in a taproom filled with draft beers, tinsel and santa hats.
One of the city’s longest running holiday pop-up bars is returning again this year. Miracle at The Citizens Trust (11 W. Gay St.), a kitsch-filled Christmas wonderland, will kick off Friday, Nov. 29, and run through Saturday, Dec. 28. Hours are Tuesday: 4-11 p.m. Tues.-Thurs. and 4 p.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat.
The Junto’s (77 Belle St.) Santa Baby Holiday Bar launches Friday, Nov. 14, and will run 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday until Jan. 3. Online reservations are now open; walk-ins are also available. Check out the menu here.
Land-Grant’s Wintergarden returns for the season on Nov. 28. The wintertime beer garden will feature brewery curling (and even curling leagues), heated igloos, ice bumper cars and other fun. Reserve your spot here.
This year, Bridge Park newcomer Palm Valley Cocktails (6770 Riverside Drive) will also play host to Miracle’s holiday-themed pop-up bar. The fun kicks off Nov. 26.
Finally, be sure to stop by the Short North Tavern (674 N. High St.) this holiday season to check out its annual Grinch mural by local artist Donna McCarty Estep. The hand-painted mural is expected to be complete by Dec. 6.
If we missed any fun Advent offerings or holiday pop-up bars, let us know in the comments.
News & Happenings
Around the Columbus Food & Drink Scene
In a surprise move, Ray Ray’s Hog Pit owner James Anderson announced today he has closed Ray Ray’s Johnstown and Marion restaurants which only opened a few months ago. Meanwhile, Ray Ray’s food truck in Linworth, parked outside Aardvark Wine & Beer, will also shutter this month. That leaves four remaining locations in Clintonville, Franklinton, Granville and Westerville. In a post on Instagram, Anderson stated: “This change allows us to refocus on what we do best—serving award-winning BBQ quickly to the people who love it most. We want to put our full energy into the locations you know and love, continuing to create the flavors, experiences, and memories that make our BBQ special.”
The popular food truck AJ’s Tacos is opening its first brick-and-mortar restaurant at 3307 Sullivant Ave. in the Hilltop. The grand opening of the new space, which will feature a bar, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22. AJ’s is best known for its birria tacos and barrio ramen.
Columbus recently welcomed yet another Korean fried chicken spot, this one near Ohio State’s campus. Noori Chicken is now open at 1454 N. High St., serving chicken tenders, sandwiches and wings along with sides like french fries and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes).
Good Night John Boy in the Short North is hosting Xmas Bar
https://www.instagram.com/xmasbarcbus/?hl=en
I'm sorry but a BUCKEYE LADY ADVENT CALENDAR oh myyyyyyyyyy