The Twelve Bars of Christmas: A Festive (and Tasty!) Outer Banks Tradition

The Twelve Bars of Christmas has become a beloved annual event on the Outer Banks for locals and guests-alike that combines the joy of holiday cheer with the spirit of giving back. This festive celebration features a series of pop-up Christmas bars, each with its own unique theme and decorations.

Why It’s Special:

• Festive Atmosphere: Each bar is transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with holiday decorations, festive drinks, and delicious food.
• Charity Event: A portion of the proceeds from the event are donated to local charities, making it a meaningful way to give back during the holiday season. Each bar chooses a charity to donate some of the proceeds to at the end of the event.
• Community Spirit: The Twelve Bars of Christmas brings together locals and visitors to celebrate the holiday season and support their community.
• Kids Quest: Just because the events take places at bars, kids are invited to join in on the fun too! Children can participate in the Christmas Island Kids Quest and receive a passport themselves. With family-friendly and child-themed events throughout the season, children are able to purchase a quest booklet and receive stamps at each location, just like Mom and Dad!

Participating Bars:

The lineup of participating bars changes each year, so there’s always something new to see each time! The participants in 2024 will be:

• Lucky 12 Tavern changes into Jingle 12 Tavern
• Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar and Grill becomes Mama Klaus’s Pop Up Holiday Tiki-Hut
• Bonzer Shack turns into The Broken Candy Cane Pop Up Christmas Villains Shack
• Goombays Grille and Raw Bar becomes Goombrrrs – A Pop-up Christmas Bar
• Poor Richard’s Sandwich Shop changes into Poor Rudolph’s – A North Pole Watering Hole
• Two Roads Tavern turns into McCallister’s Corner
• Jack Brown’s Burger Joint becomes Jack Frost’s Cheer and Burger Joint
• Jolly Roger Restaurant morphs into the Holly Jolly Christmas – A Misfit Wonderland
• The Outer Banks Brewing Station becomes Christmas Vacation Station
• Outer Banks Distilling changes into Deck the Hulls
• Blue Water Grill becomes The North Pole Yacht Club
• Lone Cedar Cafe turns into ‘Ol Cedar Browns

How it Works:

• Purchase a Passport: For $10 donation, you can purchase a passport, which holds a spot for a stamp from each of the participating popup bars.
• Collect Stamps: Visit each bar and have your passport stamped.
• Win Prizes: Once you’ve collected all 12 stamps, you’ll be entered into a raffle for exciting prizes as well as receiving a 2024 “12 Bars of Christmas” keepsake ornament (while supplies last) to take home and hang on your tree!

When and Where:

The Twelve Bars of Christmas event takes place throughout December, but officially begins on November 29th this year. Be sure to check out the events section on the website for fun parties and activities you can attend throughout the season!

For more information and to purchase a passport, visit:

• https://12barsofchristmas.com/

Join the fun and experience the magic of the Twelve Bars of Christmas on the Outer Banks!