Welcome to the era of holiday pop-ups in Las Vegas. In the past five years, more and more cool bars, lounges and restaurants have hopped aboard the Christmas express, decked their halls and crafted wonderfully wintery cocktails throughout December, lifting our collective spirits.

This year brings an all-time high number of holiday season spectacles at venues on and off the Strip, but we’re most excited about the legendary industry bar that kinda started it all, and its new spinoff.

The Sand Dollar Lounge is bringing back the iconic Miracle on Spring Mountain pop-up for its seventh year, and at this point the over-the-top decorations illuminating the divey blues bar—and the tasty libations in collectible mugs—have become an essential part of the holiday season in Las Vegas.

“We saw a need. If you look around the country, Nevada isn’t exactly a mecca for holiday celebrations,” says Nathan Grates, who puts the pop-up together every year with fellow Sand Dollar co-owners Anthony Jamison and Chase Gordon. “We realized during the initial years that everybody really wanted an opportunity to get together during the holidays, maybe entertain people from out of town, and for our industry people who are always grinding, it’s nice to just take a step back and enjoy the season. We brought that to light. After year one, there was no turning back.”

This year, Miracle on Spring Mountain once again expands into the courtyard behind the bar with the Igloo, which packs even more festive lights and live entertainment into the mix, while the Sand Dollar’s sterling reputation for delicious drinks collides with Miracle’s seasonal selections for the biggest menu yet.

“The Miracle franchise establishes the recipes every year and the menu has grown, especially with non-alcoholic options,” says Jamison. “Not every bar can handle the full menu. But we like to do a lot, and we keep increasing the budget on decorations. Every year there’s something new. This year it’s a 10-foot Yeti.”

You’ll be able to enjoy the hot tastiness from the annual Pizza Pop Up Series featuring guest chefs on Mondays and Wednesdays, along with your Snowball Old Fashioned, Christmapolitan or Run Run Reindeer cocktails. But save some spirit for something new at the Mexican restaurant the Sand Dollar Crew opened in Centennial Hills last year.

Christmas at Juliette at La Casa De Juliette has also opened for the season, a pop-up turning the acclaimed northwest eatery into a different kind of wonderland—one that’s family friendly.

“The menu here at Casa is independently created by me and my team here and the focus was to re-create classic Mexican Christmas-themed drinks,” says Gordon. “We have a Mexican eggnog called rumpope, a champurrado, a really festive fruit punch served hot, and we’re sticking to tradition and the things that make those drinks special.”

Since La Casa De Juliette is so popular with families and groups of all ages, the entire pop-up menu is available in NA form. “It’s the best holiday cocktail list I’ve ever worked on,” says Grates.

Splash some extra holiday magic across the restaurant’s already cozy cantina atmosphere, and you’ve got an experience all its own. “And you can’t bring kids to Sand Dollar. We’ve had to turn families away,” says Jamison. “We really wanted to do something more for our neighbors in the area and for families all over Las Vegas.”

Miracle on Spring Mountain at Sand Dollar Lounge Thru Dec. 31, 3355 Spring Mountain Road, miracleonspringmontain.com.

Christmas at Juliette at LA Casa de Juliette Thru Dec. 31, 7585 Norman Rockwell Lane, lacasadejuliette.com.

Bad Elf Pop-up Bar at Shady Grove Lounge at Silverton

Thru Jan. 1, silvertoncasino.com/badelf.

Sleigh his name, sleigh his name! Santa’s coming to town, and he’s sprinkling a little holiday cheer throughout the Silverton with this mischievous pop-up. The elves worked overtime on this merry and bright makeover of Shady Grove Lounge, stringing up lights, festive ornaments, fellow elves and crazy-bright Christmas trees. The cocktails are tasty enough to soothe the Grinchiest of guests. Try the Rum Rum Rum Rudolph for a creamy coquito. Santa’s Cookie Butter Martini and prosecco-topped Snowfall Spritz also make nice holiday refreshments. And if the spirit of Santa so moves you, solve Bad Elf’s complimentary puzzle book for a chance to win a $200 dining credit. Now that’s one elfing good present. –Amber Sampson

‘Tis the Season at the Chandelier at Cosmopolitan

Thru Dec. 31, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

This iconic casino bar is already one of the Strip’s most festive spots to celebrate and imbibe, but this year marks the debut of the Chandelier’s pop-up ’Tis the Season, taking holiday spirit to new levels on Level 1.5. Enter through an archway of starry lights and glittering snowflakes and take in the sights and sounds while browsing the specialty cocktail menu that includes spiked hot chocolate, the Black Truffle Old Fashioned, and Icy What You Did There, a nog made with rum, allspice, coconut milk and peppermint demerara sugar. Every Monday, the Chandelier hosts guest mixologists from bars in the Downtown Arts District, and live entertainers join the fun on Saturdays. –BR

Nightmare Before X-Mas at Más Por Favor

Thru Jan. 1, masporfavorlv.com.

If there’s one thing Más Por Favor is good at, it’s finding the magic in fusion. This holiday season, the speakeasy unwraps seasonal gold with its Nightmare Before X-Mas revamp. Decked out in twinkling lights and Tim Burton-esque details, this is the perfect place to appease your inner spooky kid. Sip on cheeky cocktails like the Sandy Claws Manhattan, Christmas Town Cookie Martini and the Oogie Boogie on the Beach while munching on festive bites like corn tamales and Jack Skellington spice cakes. Kids also get their own dose of magic too, with special daytime programming running December 6-15. –Gabriela Rodriguez

Heavy Metal Holidays at Ski Lodge at Cosmopolitan

Thru Jan. 1, spiegelworld.com.

And now it’s time for something different from our friends at Spiegelworld, at the Ski Lodge bar hiding inside Superfrico. Drum kits and electric guitars hang from the ceiling in place of mistletoe for Heavy Metal Holidays, “a twisted alpine fever dream” that you have to experience to believe. Rest assured the drinks are still holiday-inspired if a bit skull-rattling, like the Koffee Krampus with Bulleit rye, espresso and cinnamon Averna, and the Hot Buttered Ghost of Christmas Ass with Captain Morgan, Grand Marnier and Nonino. –BR

A Christmas Parlor at Flanker Kitchen at Mandalay Bay

Thru early January, flankerlv.com.

The killer sports bar at Mandalay Bay brings back its holiday takeover for a second year, offering a true winter wonderland to watch the big game and some spirited special food and drink offerings. Chicken wings with cranberry-chili glaze, Campfire S’mores and the Ferris Wheel platter (shoestring fries, chicken tenders, wings and jalapeño poppers with assorted dipping sauces) will keep you merry no matter the score. The Polar Express, a mix of Jack Daniel’s Blackberry, Babbas burnt sugar whiskey, Montenegro, Mr. Black coffee liqueur and a sprinkle of nutmeg, could make you forget about the game altogether. –BR

Santa’s Saloon at Palms

Thru Dec. 28, palms.com.

NFR may be winding down, but the rodeo ain’t over. Just ask Drunk Santa, one of the rotating cast of off-color Christmas characters bringing Santa’s Saloon at Palms to life with scripted performances and spontaneous customer interactions. The pop-up is actually two themed environments: a rustic cowboy dive decked in whiskey-bottle lights and bull horns, and the other a glowing frozen Rockies lodge glowing with icy LED effects and artificial snow drifts. Photo opportunities abound including swinging saloon doors and a “naughty jail.”

Despite the theatrical shows (Did we mention there’s a sultry Mrs. Claus selling shots?) and divine decor, the drinks take center stage. The Good, The Bad & the Naughty with Mount Gay rum, grape and lime juices, muddled blackberries and charcoal powder comes with a note from the North Pole. The Ain’t That A Kick in the Nutcracker is a festive version of a mule with ginger beer, cranberry and lime juices and orange bitters. And hot chocolate or jingle juice “moocktails” have attitude and holiday spirit to spare. Giddy up, partner! –Shannon Miller

Christmas Pop-up at Todo Bien

Thru Dec. 31, todobientiki.com.

The southwest tiki bar and tequilaría was one of the first local watering holes to unleash its pop-up, with decor just as festive as the craft cocktail assortment from master mixologist Rylen Komeiji. The Ubaes in Toyland is made with Admiral Nelson’s spiced rum, ube, pineapple and coconut, while the Banana Bread Carajillo blends Lunazul blanco, Licor 43, banana bread syrup and espresso. And yes, Virginia, there is a champurrado, a blend of Vago Elote mezcal, sweet corn, masa harina, piloncillo, Mexican hot chocolate and almond milk. –BR

But wait, there’s more!

Check out the seasonal holiday cocktails and festive decor at these Vegas venues:

Doberman Drawing Room 1025 S. 1st St., dobermandtlv.com.

Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar at On the Record Park MGM, mariahsholidaybar.com.

Jingle Bell Lounge at Topgolf 4627 Koval Lane, topgolf.com.

’Tis the Season at Rosina Cocktail Lounge Venetian, rosinacocktaillounge.com.

Miracle on Easy’s Street at Easy’s Cocktail Lounge Aria, easysvegas.com.

The Deck Ellis Island Casino, ellisislandcasino.com.

Grinchmas Wonderland at Good Morning Kitchen 5587 S. Rainbow Blvd., goodmorningkitchenlv.com.

Cabinet of Curiosities Horseshoe, thecabinetlv.com.

Nocturno Cocktail Bar 1017 S. 1st St. #180, nocturnovegas.com.

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