A Mariah Carey Christmas Pop-Up Bar Is Coming to New Orleans

Halloween is over, which means one thing: It’s officially Mariah Carey season. This year, the Queen of Christmas and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” hitmaker is teaming up with Virgin Hotels for a one-of-a-kind holiday pop-up bar, and it’s coming to New Orleans.

From Friday, November 15 through Sunday, December 29, Virgin Hotels New Orleans — as well as Virgin Hotels in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, and New York City — will transform into a Carey-themed winter wonderland courtesy of national pop-up events company Bucket Listers. The pop-up will promote Carey’s three-year-old Irish cream brand Black Irish, a line of flavored liqueurs “inspired by the heritage of the global singer-songwriter.”

The pop-up bar will serve over-the-top Black Irish liqueur-based drinks, like an espresso martini served with a candy cane rim; a white chocolate martini topped with cotton candy and glitter; a bourbon martini with a chocolate-covered pretzel rim; and cocoa coffee topped with glitter sprinkles and edible butterflies. There will also be plenty of Carey-themed displays, decor, and photo ops, like a life-sized gift box with an “All I Want For Christmas Is You” neon sign; a “Letters to Mariah” station; a lyric wall; and an oversized Christmas tree. Patrons will also be able to sit on a life-sized Christmas wreath to recreate Carey’s Magical Christmas Special album cover, sure to be an Instagram hit.

It’s the first time Bucket Listers has put on an event in New Orleans, but the company is known for its touring pop culture-themed pop-ups, like a Saved By The Bell pop-up that started in Chicago, a Barbie pop-up with Mattel that made stops around the country, and a Buffy The Vampire Slayer pop-up. It’s no surprise the Carey-themed pop-ups are taking place at Virgin Hotels across the country — since it opened in New Orleans in 2021, Virgin Hotels has held countless themed events, holiday pop-ups, and parties.

Tickets for the New Orleans pop-up are on sale now, with 90-minute time slots offered between 4 and 8:30 p.m. daily. They range from $20 to $30 depending on the day of the week and include a complimentary Black Irish welcome cocktail.