These 5 Milwaukee-area bars are hosting Halloween pop-ups, from the 'Hocus Pocus' house to a 'Wizard World'
Here are a few places to get your fill of boos — and booze — this Halloween season.
From Deer Camp's "Spooky Camp" near Fiserv Forum to "What We Do In The Shadows" Nadja's Pop-up at Bay View's Lost Whale, these five Milwaukee-area bars are hosting themed pop-ups this year.
Some run all October long, while others take place around the holiday weekend or are a one-day festivity.
'Spooky Camp' - Deer Camp
Deer Camp has undergone a "full transformation" to become "Spooky Camp" once again, according to Grace Masanz, marketing and events coordinator, and Adriana Ramirez, brand and operations officer.
The entrance has a "spooky corn maze feel." Inside, you'll find ghouls, goblins, ghosts and skeletons, as well as animatronic scary clowns and demon children, they said.
Oh, and there's a new 8-foot-tall skeleton with eyes that light up blue, Masanz said. Ramirez said it's so big, it makes you "stop in your tracks."
Chandeliers are covered in cobwebs; there's a fireplace with spiders and garland, as well as a spiderweb wall with even more spiders — and big bats.
One area has a blood-splattered murder scene reminiscent of the movie "Saw."
Masanz and Ramirez said the Deer Camp crew is detail-focused and makes sure "every nook and cranny" of the space has a "spooky aura to it."
"Creepy and tasty" cocktails include:
"Ecto Cooler": Tito's Handmade Vodka, apple, melon liqueur, Triple Sec, a splash of pineapple juice, and topped with lemon lime soda.
"Purple People Eater": Rum, Blue Curacao, grenadine and a splash of lemon lime soda.
"Blood Orange OF": Blood orange whiskey, bitters, and garnished with a cherry. Can be made sweet, sour or as a press.
"Deadly and Delicious": A margarita with Milagro Tequila, chilled and shaken with raspberry liqueur, blackberry syrup, Triple Sec and fresh lime juice.
"Hot as Hell": Milagro Reposado Tequila, Ancho Reyes, grapefruit juice, a dash of cayenne, and topped with sour soda.
"Something Spooky": Jack Daniel's Apple, lemon juice, a dash of bitters, and topped with soda.
"Witches Brew": Mr. Black Cold Brew Liqueur, Irish cream and Skrewball shaken and strained.
There are two themed shooters:
"Swamp Water": A shot of whiskey, Irish creme and butterscotch Schnapps.
"Witch Please": Vodka, lime juice and raspberry liqueur shaken and chilled.
The bar also offers an array of beers, seltzers, ciders, nonalcoholic beverages and nibbles, including a jumbo pretzel with cheese, Tots on the Street stuffed gourmet tater tots, and pizzas.
The bar will host scary movie-themed trivia through Quizmaster Trivia on Oct. 27; and a big Halloween party on Oct. 28-29 with a costume contest, giveaways and a DJ.
The bar also hosts Bucks pre-and post-parties.
ADDRESS: 1023 N. King Drive, Milwaukee
DATES AND HOURS: Through Oct. 31. Open 4 p.m. to bar close Thursday; 3 p.m. to bar close Friday; and noon to bar close Saturday and Sunday. The bar is typically closed Monday through Wednesday unless a marquee event, such as a Bucks home game or concert, is going on at Fiserv Forum.
COVER: No cover charge
MORE INFO: facebook.com/DeerCampMKE or campbarmke.com
'Hocus Pocus' Witch Craft Cocktail Pop-up - SlyFox
SlyFox is going to be decked out to look like the Sanderson sisters' house from "Hocus Pocus," according to managing partner Andrew Logman.
The bar's "Hocus Pocus Witch Craft Cocktail Pop-up" will feature "Hocus Pocus" Halloween décor, including a cauldron, candles, Binx the cat, the Sanderson sisters and more.
There will be seven or eight drinks inspired by the movie, including:
"Unfaithful Lover Long Since Dead": A riff on the Zombie tiki cocktail that will include a mix of rums, pineapple and other juices, and possibly Campari to give it more of a bloody color.
"Circle of Salt": A pumpkin margarita featuring fresh-squeezed acidic pumpkin juice, tequila, Triple Sec and a salted rim.
Binx: A cold brew cocktail.
There will also be a virgin cocktail called "The Candle Lighter" since in the film, a virgin is needed to light a candle, Logman explained.
Candy shots
SlyFox's regular menu will also be available during the pop-up, Logman noted, including its signature drink, the "Sly Tai" in a fox glass, a "Nitro Bulldog," and several N/A cocktails that alcohol can be added to.
"We kind of do everything that we can from scratch here," he said.
Food from Sticky Rice, which the bar is connected to, will be available.
Costumes are not only welcomed, but encouraged, the event's Facebook page said. The bar will host a costume contest around 10 p.m. on Oct. 29, and the winner of it will advance to the Halloween on Brady costume contest, Logman said.
He recommended keeping an eye on the bar's Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.
ADDRESS: 1692 N. Van Buren St., Milwaukee
DATES AND HOURS: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Oct. 28-29, and 4 p.m. to midnight Oct. 30-31.
COVER: No cover charge.
MORE INFO: facebook.com/theslyfoxbar or instagram.com/theslyfoxbar
'What We Do In The Shadows' Nadja's Halloween Pop-up - Lost Whale
Lost Whale owners Tripper Duval and Dan Beres were brainstorming different pop-up ideas, from "Stranger Things" to '80s hair metal horror.
"In the midst of these conversations, we're making jokes to one another about the most recent episodes of 'What We Do in the Shadows,' " Duval said. "It just kind of clicked."
Lost Whale will be putting on a “What We Do In The Shadows” Nadja's Halloween Pop-up. Nadja's is a vampire nightclub on the the FX/Hulu vampire comedy.
Attendees can expect "tons of decorations," including blood sprinklers, “What We Do In The Shadows”-themed knickknacks, lots of different lights and posters.
"We're going to go all out," Duval said.
There will be eight cocktails inspired by the show, including:
"Throat Juice": A Grey Goose-based drink with lime, Hawaiian Punch and bitters that's kegged and carbonated.
"He's as Mad as A Wax Banana": Bombay Sapphire Gin, banana, sweet vermouth, Aperol and root beer bitters.
"Jackie Daytona, a Regular Human Bartender": Zombie Dust Pale Ale served with a shot of bourbon.
A few of the bar's staple drinks may also be available.
Costumes — especially of the show's characters or vampire-themed ones — are encouraged.
A blood drive with Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin will be held at Lost Whale on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. A handful of time slots are still available. Sign up at donate.wisconsin.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/257373.
“What We Do In The Shadows” actually has many Wisconsin connections. There have been Milwaukee Tool product placements, a name drop for Kohl's, a Wisconsin family — including a dad in a Green Bay Packers shirt — and a vampire mimicking the Wisconsin accent.
ADDRESS: 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee
DATES AND HOURS: 5 p.m. to bar close Oct. 28-30
COVER: No cover charge
MORE INFO: facebook.com/Lostwhalemke or instagram.com/lostwhalemke
'Wizard World' - Moran's Pub
"Harry Potter" fans, listen up. Moran's Pub has been transformed into a "Wizard World."
The pop-up came from the mind of local artist Lauren Marvell, who called it a "not so subtle dedication to our favorite witch (and) wizard books" in a previous Journal Sentinel report.
Themed decorations include signs, knickknacks and books, and there's a fireplace to re-create a scene from the series where letters fly in letting Potter know he’d been accepted to Hogwarts.
Specialty drinks include:
"Irish Butterbeer"
“Love Potion": Gin with lemon juice, homemade simple syrups and cherry juice
“Dementor": Similar to a black and tan
Classic non-alcoholic butterbeer
An "Eat Slugs" shot featuring booze-soaked rainbow gummy worms
Patrons can purchase a $3 letter, which will be either an acceptance or rejection to Moran's School of Witchcraft. Whoever receives the one acceptance letter gets a prize. Once a winner comes forward, another acceptance letter is put into the pile.
The pub is selling a "Wizard Pack" for $25, which includes Harry Potter glasses, a scar tattoo, Golden Snitch candy, plastic cauldron mug, a ticket for a free mule and a homemade wand.
Interactive events include Wizard-based games with themes of a scavenger hunt, a dice game, a paper airplane game and more on Oct. 15; Guinness representatives bringing in a special machine that can print photos onto the beer foam on Oct. 21; a beer pong tournament on Oct. 22; Halloween crafts on Oct. 27; a costume party on Oct. 29; and special doughnuts from Supernova Coffee & Doughnuts on Oct. 30.
ADDRESS: 912 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee
DATES AND HOURS: Through Oct.31. Open 4 to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
COVER: No cover charge. But, some events have an additional charge to participate.
MORE INFO: facebook.com/MoransPubMKE
RELATED: This South Milwaukee pub is hosting a Harry Potter-themed pop-up throughout October
'Spooky Speakeasy Pop-up Party' - Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
A Spooky Speakeasy Pop-up Party at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery will feature drink and shot specials; DJ Skrat, DJ FXY and DJ Wolf; a costume contest; and more, according to the event's Facebook page.
Tickets — which include an attendee's first beer, hard seltzer or well drink — can be purchased for $10 (plus fees and sales tax) at bit.ly/3SPny9T.
ADDRESS: 740 N. Plankinton Ave., Milwaukee
DATES AND HOURS: Doors open at 10 p.m. Oct. 22
MORE INFO: bit.ly/3CR3bUe
Erik S. Hanley of the Now News Group staff contributed to this report.
RELATED: These are some of the most elaborate Halloween decorations in the Milwaukee area
Contact Hannah Kirby at hannah.kirby@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HannahHopeKirby.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee bars hosting Halloween pop-ups: Hocus Pocus, Wizard World
