If you are trying to make it on Santa’s nice list this year, Bishop Art’s naughtiest pop-up bar may diminish your chances. But if you like merry cocktails, flamboyant decor and a lineup of games and festivities all December long, this is the place for you.
Taking over the entirety of Bishop Lane this holiday season, Exxir Capital’s Tipsy Elf returned to town on Nov. 22 for its fifth year along with its themed drinks, festive vibes and holiday mischief. Larry, the OG Tipsy Elf, will of course be in attendance in the naughtiest fashion, and this event turns 21+ after 9 p.m.
“The goal was to bring the magic and nostalgia of Christmas to life, but with a playful, kind of debaucherous over-the-top twist,” says Sierra Tuthill, Exxir director of marketing.
This year’s map highlights locations such as Santa’s Twerkshop and Tipsy Town as the event spans across Bishop Lane and can be accessed through the alley between Marcel and Go Easy.
Tuthill says the team brainstorms ideas all year long and begins to plan everything out about six months in advance.
The bar inside of Casablanca — which recently underwent renovations to accommodate more guests — offers “Lux” cocktails and Tejas’ outdoor bar has been refitted as the Tipsy Tex Saloon. Each bar offers its own signature drinks and plenty of Instagram-worthy backgrounds.
An addition this year is a holiday showdown stage in the middle of Casablanca for more community karaoke. This year also dives more into the storyline of Larry the Elf, which Exxir Creative Director LeRoy Poignant says is the focal point of the event.
“We may or may not have a statue of him for the town square,” Poignant says. “We kind of dug a little bit further into getting some custom things done for Larry. This year will be exciting in that sense.”
Last year, Tuthill said 25,000 people came to the event.
“This started as a little cozy holiday pop-up out of that little white house next to Paradiso, where Village Baking is currently running their business out of, and then it just gets growing and growing,” Tuthill says. “And now it takes over the entire Bishop Lane area, and multiple venues like Casablanca. The larger common areas outside have just grown exponentially.”
Last year, the event was extended through New Year’s.
The goal? To make Tipsy Elf the most memorable holiday destination.
“Not only is it decked out with the most lights and fun and holiday decor, but we also want it to be a larger winter wonderland experience where you’re not expecting what’s to come,” Tuthill says. “We have our surprises each night — we’ve had the twerking Grinches, the daddy Santas — you just never know what you’re gonna get.”
Tuthill says should they see the same numbers, the holiday party might just stick around into 2025.
“I always compare it to Hallmark,” Poignant says. “Tipsy Elf doesn’t fit into Hallmark, but Bishop Arts fits into Hallmark. So I feel like we’re bridging that gap and giving someone a destination, but I also want them to go down the street and experience the rest of Bishop. Getting people down here and seeing what we have to offer is really exciting.”
Visit thetipsyelfcocktailbar.com for up-to-date calendars and festivities.
