Halloween Pop-Up Bar Opens Friday In Philly

PHILADELPHIA — For some people, it's never too early to start preparing for Halloween festivities.

And that applies to Craft Concepts Group's Halloween-themed pop-up bar Nightmare Before Tinsel.

Nightmare Before Tinsel will open for the season at 4 p.m. on Friday at 116 S. 12th Street in Midtown Village. It will be open 4 p.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, 4:00pm to 2:00am, and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 31.

The pop-up will feature scary photo opps, witches bru cocktails, seasonal fall beers, costumed bartenders, and tons of frights and flights.

Exhibits, props, decorations and photo opportunities will range from scary and gory, to ironic and funny, the retro and vintage.

This year's pop-up's theme is "The Devil's Lair," which features the Devil's Living Room, filled with a flaming hot and bloody cave dripping with human remains.

In the main bar area, look for 1,037 human intestines hanging high above, and the heads of two small children hidden among the remains.

On the bar top and along the entrance wall, artist Scott Johnston has created a collection of original art murals that pay homage to famous horror and Halloween characters — both real and imagined. Look for famous faces like IT!, Ash from "Evil Dead," Duane Jones from "Night of the Living Dead," Edgar Allan Poe, Jack Nicholson from "The Shining," Linda Blair from "The Exorcist," Hellraiser's Lament Configuration, H.P. Lovecraft and others.

Johnston also created vintage Halloween art that covered the railings, bathroom and other corners of the bar - with vintage and antique postcards, greeting cards, music covers and more. Johntson said he wanted to showcase famous monsters, black light weirdness and a touch of Euro horror and cult cinema this year.

As for drinks, look for a full selection of exclusive and spirited cocktails and witches brews. Bartenders will be pouring potions and seasonal fall beers. Like Tinsel, the bar will feature selections in theme, several with a take-away souvenir. Beverages include Ecto Cooler Shots, Blood Bags, Rebel Hard Pumpkin Spice Latte, Three Floyds Zombie Dust pale ale, Sly Fox Octoberfest, and Dogfish Head Punkin.

For the true-spirit seekers and adventurous, costumes are welcome and encouraged, but optional.

Patrons should be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination at the door before entering.

Nightmare Before Tinsel is in the same location as the Tinsel Christmas Bar and brought to you by the same people.

"Craft Concepts Group is ready to unleash your worst (and best) nightmare," said Craft Concepts Group owner Teddy Sourias. "We are kicking off Spooky Season in Philadelphia earlier than ever before. Nightmare Before Tinsel will keep you scared for six weeks leading up to Halloween. We have been working away to bring you this beloved Halloween tradition unlike any other in the region. We also are trying to constantly think out of the box and have a little fun along the way. We can't wait to journey to the underworld together and experience The Devil's Lair."

Learn more about Nightmare Before Tinsel here.