Future home of ‘Holidaze,’ the Christmas-themed pop-up bar by the operators of Maxine’s Taproom
Staff photo
It looks like wassailers will have a new place for a-wassailing this holiday season. A new holiday-themed pop-up bar is coming soon to Fayetteville.
Locals Hannah Withers and Ben Gitchel plan to open the temporary establishment at 18 E. Center Street to coincide with this year’s Lights of the Ozarks festival on the downtown square.
The couple are co-operators of Maxine’s Taproom. They also own Leverett Lounge and are the founders and former owners of Little Bread Company.
The bar will be called Holidaze, and will be decked out from front to back with Christmas decor, trees, and lights, and will focus on a menu of holiday-themed cocktails.
It is set to open on Thursday, Nov. 21, and will stay open through Dec. 31.
Holidaze will offer food from local food truck Persephone on Wheels, and will also host several themed events during its 40-day run. In addition, the bar will donate 25% of the proceeds to local nonprofits KUAF 91.3 FM, NWA Equality, and Magdalene Serenity House.
“This is our way of giving to some organizations whose work in the community we admire, or to those that have supported us in different ways,” Withers said. “This is a season of giving and celebration and gratitude, which we’ve wrapped up into a place that highlights what we do best: cocktails and hospitality, plus the fabulous food of Michael Robertshaw and Meredith Butler!”
Among the themed-events planned at Holidaze this year is the popular ‘Nog Off’ egg nog competition that has become a staple each holiday season at Maxine’s Tap Room. During the event, set for Dec. 18 this year, local bartenders create their own version of the classic holiday drink, and attendees vote for their favorites in a peoples-choice style competition. Magdalene Serenity House representatives will host the event, and the organization will benefit from the proceeds raised that evening. The organization will also host a Women’s Musical Showcase on Dec. 28.
KUAF will host two themed events at Holidaze. On Nov. 24, Kyle Kellams and Pete Hartman from the station will host All Drinks Considered, with the two personalities dueling to create their best cocktail creations.
The station will also host a Friendsgiving Vinyl Night at 6 p.m. on Nov. 29.
NWA Equality has two events planned at Holidaze. The organization will host an Out & About Happy Hour at the bar on Thursday, Dec. 5, and a Holidazzle Diva Drag Show at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.
“We are really excited to have a chance to do something we love with talented foodies, a slew of great bartenders, and three local nonprofits that I think do really important work in Northwest Arkansas,” Withers said.
For more information about the new establishment, visit their Facebook page.
