Miracle at MidCity Review: Christmas Popup Bar in Huntsville

Huntsville is bursting with Christmas spirit with a festive popup bar that’s taken over The Camp for the month of December. Check out my review of Miracle at MidCity, Huntsville’s Christmas-themed popup bar.

The decor is wonderfully kitschy, the fire pits are warm, and the drinks are spirited. It’s Christmas time at The Camp with a holiday-themed popup bar called Miracle at MidCity!

Want to know what to expect at Miracle at MidCity? I’ve got you covered with my review of everything from the food to the drinks to the igloos to the vibes!

What is Miracle at MidCity?

Miracle at MidCity is a temporary Christmas-themed popup bar that is taking over The Camp from Wednesday, November 22, 2023 through Sunday, December 24, 2023.

Throughout the month, Miracle at MidCity will have a special menu of Christmas-themed cocktails, holiday music on repeat, festive events, and plenty of festive holiday décor.

We’ve tried out the bar a couple years, and a couple different ways, so I’ve got all the details.

Miracle at MidCity Popup Bar Review

Miracle at MidCity gives you a festive overload of holiday cheer the moment you step in The Camp. From the decorations to the drinks to the music, everything is set up to be as cozy and as kitschy as can be.

The Seating

They have all different types of seating set up. Where you get seated mostly depends on how big your party size is. Bigger parties, for instance, get the cozy couches next to a fake fireplace scene.

The night I went with a party of 4, we got a low table with bar stools, which wasn’t the most comfortable. But it’s just a toss up for what you’ll get.

There are also plenty of space heaters all around to keep you cozy and warm while you enjoy the open-air concept. It’s not like Alabama gets too cold, so the all-outdoor seating shouldn’t be too much of a problem in the winter.

You can also rent out heated igloos and pergolas for your bigger parties. We actually rented out an igloo one year, so head below for more about that experience!

The Igloos

The heated igloos at Miracle at MidCity seats up to 6 people, and they have 4 you can rent. The igloo comes with a private heated space, a space heater, cocktail service so you don’t have to wait in line to order, a 2 hour reservation, and milk and cookies.

We had 5 people in our igloo, and we were so excited for it. I wanted to love this experience, but I just didn’t.

They had about 7 seating options in the igloo, each with a blanket, all centered around a low table: there was a comfy arm chair, 3 butterfly folding chairs, a couple bean bags, and a hard metal chair. So for the first 45 minutes I was sitting in a low bean bag chair that I couldn’t even sit up in and was absolutely not comfortable in. (I’ll get to why it took 45 minutes to switch chairs in a moment). It looked like each igloo had slightly different options of seating, but they all generally had these types of chairs.

The igloo itself had seen better days. There were a lot of holes and the zipper was broken so you couldn’t even close the “door”. There was not a space heater when we arrived, and it took a while to get one brought to us.

So we’d arrived 15 minutes early for our reservation and were seated early. But that 15 minutes passed and we hadn’t been waited on. So Kevin went out to make sure we hadn’t been forgotten about, and the hostess assured us our waiter was coming. The place was not busy at all, there were only a few people at the tables at this point and one other igloo was occupied. Another 15 minutes go by without anyone coming to wait on us, so Kevin went out again, this time with the added intention of getting a space heater.

The hostess had described our waiter to us, and we’re pretty sure we found the guy. He was happy to help us, but didn’t seem to know that he was supposed to be our waiter. He did get us a space heater, but the space heaters had seen better days as well. He had to bring over 3 to figure out which one worked, and of course the first one he tried didn’t work at all. But eventually, after about 45 minutes, we got a space heater, our orders taken, and a butterfly chair for me to sit in so I could see and talk to my family. Yay!

The space heater still didn’t do a great job at heating the igloo, probably because of all the holes in the igloo creating a draft. My brother, who was sitting right next to the heater, was quite toasty, but the rest of us could hardly feel it. But we weren’t frozen.

Otherwise, we enjoyed having the space to ourselves away from the rest of the bar.

The Drinks

The festive cocktails are always a lot of fun. Each one comes in a different holiday glass, which you can actually purchase if you want. They also have Naughty and Nice Shots, too. Here’s what all we tried:

• Christmapolitan, made with vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, rosemary, lime, and absinthe mist.
• Jingle Balls Nog, made with cognac, cream sherry, almond milk, cream, egg, vanilla, and nutmeg.
• Yippie Ki Yay Mother F****r!, made with a blend of three rums, ube and coconut orgeat, and pineapple juice.
• Elfing Around, made with prosecco, gin, mulled wine reduction, grapefruit shrub, aromatic bitters, and orange bitters.
• Grandma Got Run Over By A T-Rex, made with vodka, orange liqueur, gentian aperitif, aloe vera, spiced pomegranate and grapefruit mix, lime, and aromatic bitters.

Our favorites were Elfing Around, Yippie Ki Yay, and the T-Rex.

My only issue with drinks is that they don’t have all the drinks that are listed on their website. Apparently that’s a national menu for all the Miracle brand bars all over the U.S., and not every location gets all the makings for every cocktail. So the first 2 cocktails I tried ordering from their menu on the website (they didn’t have a drink menu available on the QR code in the igloo, so the website was the only thing I had to go off of), they didn’t have. Which is an incredibly frustrating experience.

The Food

Their food menu has entrees like burger, sliders, shrimp, and a salad. And don’t forget the sweets! You can choose from bread pudding, cookies, and s’mores. Here’s what we tried:

• Santa Nach-Ho Ho Ho’s, which were tortilla chips piled with queso, pico de gallo, jalapenos, and cilantro chimichurri sour cream. You can add chicken or steak. We added chicken.
• Rudolph & Me Burger, which was an 8oz ground beef burger with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, American cheese, and fries. You can add bacon, caramelized onions, or jalapenos.
• Merry Shrimp-mas, which was jumbo fried shrimp served with fries and cocktail sauce.
• Mrs. Clause Charcuterie, which has seasonal meats, a selection of cheeses, fresh fruits, nuts, and olives.
• Milk and Kiss My Kringle Cookies, which were chocolate chip cookies and milk.

The QR code they had on the table in the igloo didn’t actually take you to the Christmas menu. It only took you to The Camp’s regular menu. So that was confusing. Also, by this point, I was distrustful of the website menu after trying to order a cocktail. Everything we ordered from the food menu was available, though.

The Atmosphere

I love the atmosphere and the holiday vibes all around Miracle at MidCity. They really go all-out with their holiday decorations, and it really sets the mood!

My only issue was the night we did the igloo, around 8 p.m. on a Saturday night, they had a DJ come in and changed the music from holiday music to dance music. That just really killed the vibe.

So if you’re looking for a holiday experience, go earlier in the evening or during the day, or maybe just on a week night. If you want a party scene, then go later on a weekend night.

Miracle at MidCity Pros

• There’s a lot of festive cheer, so it’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit
• The drinks were all good, we’ve liked everything we’ve had here
• They serve good food, so you can do dinner and drinks here

Miracle at MidCity Cons

• It’s not super organized, from the confusion with the menus to us not having a waiter in the igloo
• The igloos just aren’t worth what you pay for them. They’re falling apart and the seating isn’t very comfy.
• The seating all around isn’t the most comfortable. I just want a chair with a back and a cushion, and a normal height table that my legs can go under, please.

Miracle at MidCity Info

Address: 5909 University Dr NW, Huntsville, AL 35805

Hours: Tu-Th: 4 p.m. — 9 p.m.; F-Sat: 11 a.m. — 11 p.m.; and Sun: 11 a.m. — 8 p.m. Miracle at MidCity is closed on Mondays and on Christmas Day.

Price: Drink prices range from $12-$16, shots cost $8, and food ranges from $5-$25

Parking: Parking is free at The Camp and in the MidCity District, but don’t park at the Holiday Inn next door as that parking is reserved for guests.

What to Know Before Visiting Huntsville’s Christmas-Themed Popup Bar

• The popup bar is all outdoors. We love an open-air dining and drinking experience, but it also means you’ll need to plan around the weather!
• Reservations are not required. But you may want to make one to ensure you have a spot without having to wait.
• They are pet and family friendly. Sure, they’re serving drinks, but you can still bring along the kiddos and the doggos. This might be your perfect photo op for your Christmas card this year!
• Food trucks are serving meals. The Camp’s food trucks will be serving a special menu if you want food to go along with your meal.
• Free parking. Parking is free at The Camp and in the MidCity District, but don’t park at the Holiday Inn next door as that parking is reserved for guests.
• Hours: Tu-Th: 4 p.m. — 9 p.m.; F-Sat: 11 a.m. — 11 p.m.; and Sun: 11 a.m. — 8 p.m. Miracle at MidCity is closed on Mondays and on Christmas Day.

• How to Spend Christmas in Huntsville, Alabama
• A Guide to the Galaxy of Lights at Huntsville Botanical Garden
• The Coolest Bars in Huntsville, Alabama
• Downtown Huntsville’s Secret Speakeasy

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Ready to visit Huntsville, Alabama? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Huntsville using Hotels.com.
• Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Huntsville to help plan your trip!
• Finish Your Christmas Shopping: Still looking for the perfect gift for your travel-lover? Check out my comprehensive Gifts for Travelers gift guide.

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Cheers!

Paige

Have you visited Miracle at MidCity, the popup Christmas bar in Huntsville, Alabama? Let me know in the comments!