‘Tis the Season: 8 Inspo-Filled Holiday Pop-Ups That Caught Our Eye

For the first time ever, affordable supermarket chain ALDI brought a life-size Charcuterie Chalet to its hometown of Chicago Dec. 4-5. And, yes, this meant that festive scenes like holiday sweaters, ski lodges, and even the Chicago skyline were made out of charcuterie staples like meats and cheese. (More than 90 cheeses!) Guests at the free to-do had the opportunity to sample the charcuterie boards with complimentary wine pairings courtesy of ALDI’s exclusive selection of wines.

Hotel Lobby Candle ushered in the holiday season with a three-day, festive immersive experience fit for a five-star hotel. The luxury scented candle company tapped event planner Forbes Functions, creative agency East Olivia, and marketing expert See Golden Consulting to transform an art gallery nestled in SoHo into the Hotel Lobby Holiday Shop.

Upon entering the experience, guests were welcomed by an enchanting display of vintage hotel keys and the aroma of travel-inspired scented candles. Hotel Lobby’s candles, after all, are designed with wanderlusters in mind, with nods to Miami; Aspen, Colo.; and Napa Valley, Calif., to name a few.

Beyond the keys was sensory heaven—complete with a Christmas tree, of course, where candles hung in the place of ornaments.

In another nod to a luxe hotel stay, bellmen served up glasses of Josh Cellars prosecco and Adamas caviar.

Hotel Lobby Candle founders Lindsay Silberman and Matt Stevens personally walked guests through a curated gift guide fittingly dubbed the “candle menu.” And in the spirit of the gifting season, attendees who purchased a signature holiday scent were given an exclusive gift with purchase (a selection of Silberman's and Stevens’ favorites, like Olaplex).

Silver Jeans ushered in the Yuletide back in October with a Friendsgiving event that doubled as the launch of its 2024 holiday collection. Aside from a selection of denim, a nostalgic feast curated by celebrity private chef Matt Migliore took center stage, with a stuffed turkey made from cake as the grand finale. “There was a real sense of community and connection, with the brand and with each other,” Silver Jeans Co. CEO Suzanne Silverstein said of the event.

In true Thanksgiving fashion, guests invited to the Oct. 10 event at Maxwell Social in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood were asked to don their favorite pair of jeans (Silver Jeans preferred) and a “cozy fall sweater.” Upon arrival at Maxwell Social, pie was served up alongside displays of Silver’s latest holiday collections (and even select items from spring 2025).

"The holidays are about happiness, love, and gratitude,” Silverstein told BizBash. Thus, it comes as no surprise that one of the main activations at the event was a giant poster that boasted “I’m thankful for...,” inviting guests to jot down the people, places, and things that fill them with gratitude.

Nestled in Madison Square Park in Manhattan is upscale American restaurant BLACKBARN, which is hosting its first-ever holiday-themed brunches on Dec. 8 and 15. Here, guests will dine on a brunch menu chock-full of festive favorites (like pumpkin bread and warm apple cider) in between snagging photo ops and writing letters to Santa. And in the spirit of the gift-giving season, BLACKBARN is asking that every party bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to The Floating Hospital’s Candy Cane Lane program, where unhoused families can shop and receive items, including toys, for free.

On Nov. 14, Park Terrace Hotel—situated adjacent to NYC’s iconic Bryant Park—hosted its 2024 holiday kickoff celebration, which is marked each year by the unveiling of its Christmas tree. The tree, as it is every year, was designed by “Christmas Decor Extraordinaire” Jesse Cooper, who took on the theme of “A Champagne Holiday.” Staying true to the concept, the 12-foot Vickerman Jersey Fraser fir tree was decked out in gold ornaments and twinkling white lights.

On Park Terrace Hotel’s sixth floor, a celebration ensued after the tree lighting, where guests either clinked glasses of bubbly (of course) or sipped on one of the property's specialty seasonal cocktails. The Christmas Cosmo and a spin on a Mexican hot chocolate were on offer while interactive touchpoints included tutorials on tying the perfect ribbon as well as cocktail demos.

Set atop Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel is Somewhere Nowhere NYC, which puts on a Winter Wonderland celebration each year to mark the opening of its rooftop teardrop Igloos. A reservation in one of these enclosures is highly sought after during the holiday season—not only as a festive activity (each igloo features a personal fireplace and festive plush seating and blankets) but also for its panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline.

There’s no need to fret if you didn’t attend the kickoff party: Somewhere Nowhere’s teardrop igloos are now available for reservation Wednesday to Saturday, from 5 to 11 p.m. Each reservation boasts a minimum spend of $85 per guest and accounts for two and a half hours. A bottle of Champagne is included in the cost, though other treats—like s'mores and caviar bites—can be ordered.

Tuck Shop ushered in the holiday season with an intimate, cozy breakfast event as artful as the packaging of its handcrafted chocolate bars (which was given away to guests as wrapping paper). Thus, it was only fitting that hungry revelers indulged in hot cocoa and chocolate croissants featuring Tuck Shop products.

The breakfast was hosted at Tuck Shop co-founder Sarah Michler’s apartment. Michler’s fireplace served as the heart of the event, which is where guests gathered to fill out a Tuck Shop New York City Favorites card to celebrate their favorite local spots for coffee, brunch, boutique shopping, sweet treats, cocktails, and more in a nod to the brand’s home base in New York City.

The home-cooked meal consisted of brunch classics that Michler told BizBash was the perfect festive way to kick off the holidays. “We wish we could have our chocolate-dipped croissants every morning!” she said. (Pictured is Michler, right, and her fellow co-founder, Caroline Witmer, left.)

Tucked inside Chicago’s decades-old neighborhood Irish pub is Pippin’s Tavern, home to the recently opened piano bar, Pippin’s Lounge. In honor of the holiday season, the lounge is hosting Tinsel & Tunes pop-ups every Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., where revelers can expect resident pianists to put a Yuletide twist on their performances. All the while, Pippin's Lounge will also be serving up seasonal foods and beverages—as well as cozy photo ops that you can only get this time of year.