Here’s Where to Drink and Party on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Phoenix

Believe it or not, there will be live music happening over Christmas weekend, as well as dance nights, karaoke sessions, comedy shows, and even a holiday rave. Various bars, clubs, venues, and drinkeries around metro Phoenix will be open, operating, and serving drinks and entertainment of some sort on Friday, December 24, and Saturday, December 25.

In other words, Santa Claus won’t be the only creature that’s stirring in the wee hours on Christmas Eve.

For some, these drinking and dancing destinations are a place to escape all this holiday folderol and drown their sorrows. For others, they’re places where one can go to engage in revelry of a different sort. Some (like the Coach House in Scottsdale) are dressed up with enough lights and decorations to make Clark Griswold jealous.

Whatever your reasons are for going out over the Christmas weekend, the following spots will be open for business.

Chopper John’s

Local rock ‘n’ roll cover band Chris Kane Trio will spend Christmas Eve performing at Chopper John’s, 2547 East Indian School Road, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission to the gig is free. Call 6602-955-0881.

Rips Ales & Cocktails

Spend your Christmas Eve singing your favorite songs (and maybe even some holiday favorites) during the weekly karaoke session from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Rips, 3045 North 16th Street. Talent is optional, enthusiasm is appreciated. No cover. Call 602-266-0015.

DWNTWN

Four local DJs will be on the decks during the Xmas Latin Party at DWNTWN, 702 North Central Avenue, on Friday, December 24. They’ll also have a michelada and taco bar out on the back patio. The 21-and-over party goes from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. and patrons are asked to “dress to impress.” General admission is $10 and VIP admission is $20.

Salt and Lime

To say the folks at Salt and Lime Modern Mexican Grill, 9397 East Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale, get into the swing of the season would be an understatement. Massive amounts of Christmas decorations adorn the walls and other surfaces while there’s a holiday pop-up bar called the Feliz Navidad Cantina will be operating on December 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 480-661-5463.

Blaze Lounge

DJ Nasty will host the X-Mas Eve Party at Blaze Lounge, 6514 West Bethany Home Road. Local artists like Msanii Foreman, Moabi Kotu, and others are scheduled to perform at the event, which runs from 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Admission is $20.

Monarch Theatre

The DJs and electronic dance music artists of Techno Snobs and Meltdnb will take over the sound systems at Monarch Theatre, 122 East Washington Street, on Friday, December 24, during the Xmas Eve Bloodletting dance party. Expect a mix of techno, drum ‘n’ bass, and “adjacent genres” from DJs like Intrinzic, Cynapze, DeadPeak, Iron Giant, Borrowed Drums, MarcBaca, and others. The 21-and-over event starts at 9 p.m.

The Rhythm Room

Expect a jam session to ensue inside the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School Road, when renowned harmonica player Billy Watson teams up with Bill Tarsha and the members of the Rocket 88s during the annual Christmas Eve Blues Bash on Friday, December 24. Don’t be surprised if Santa himself pays a visit between houses to sit in with the musicians. Doors open at 7 p.m. and admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Call 602-265-4842 for more details.

Boycott Bar

After they’ve finished prepping gifts at the North Pole, Santa’s helpers will gather at Boycott Bar, 4301 North Seventh Avenue, for the “Naughty Elf Party” on Friday, December 24. Drinking, dancing, and other shenanigans (naughty or otherwise) will take place at the shindig. Start time is 8 p.m. and admission is free. Call 602-825-6240.

Gracie’s Tax Bar

An employee of Gracie’s Tax Bar, 711 North Seventh Avenue, says they’ll be open for business starting at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and at 8 p.m. on Christmas night. No DJs or band are scheduled but the kitchen will be serving and its mix of merriment and libations will be on tap. Call 602-366-0111.

Yucca Tap Room

Drinkers, rockers, and neighborhood residents turn up at the Yucca Tap Room, 29 West Southern Avenue in Tempe, to bend elbows and engage in other social rites for 365 days a year, including on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They’ll do so again this year, as the joint will be open both days. The main room will also host a rock show headlined by local band HAM on Friday, December 24. Sex and Sandwiches, Shane Pogue, J.R. Hogsett will provide support during the 8 p.m. show. Admission is free. Call 480-967-4777 if you need more details.

Coach House

The folks at the Coach House, 7011 East Indian School Road in Scottsdale, pride themselves on being open for business every day of the year without fail, including throughout the holiday weekend. You can get an early start to boot as the place opens up daily at 6 a.m. If you need something to do while tipping back a few, take some time to take in the sea of Christmas lights and decorations covering every inch of the place, inside and out. Call 480-990-3433.

Pomeroy’s

Want to escape the usual familial drama and holiday hullabaloo for a few hours? The drink-slinging staff at Pomeroy’s, 5551 North Seventh Street, will be willing to pour you something strong and let you bend their ears on Christmas Eve and Christmas night. They’ll have regular hours on Saturday and will be open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Wednesday. Call 602-264-5411.

The Lost Leaf

The website for The Lost Leaf, 914 North Fifth Street, touts the fact that it’s “open every day of the year” without fail. As such, you’ll find its staff serving up selections from its sizable roster of beers, wines, sakes, lambics, ciders, meads, and other brews on Christmas Eve and Christmas night from 5 p.m. until 2 p.m. Call 602-258-0014.

Bikini Lounge

The folks at Bikini Lounge, 1502 Grand Avenue, will be working from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. on both Christmas Eve and Christmas itself. The historic tiki bar and dive will offer its usual mix of cheap drinks, entertaining bartenders, and colorful regulars. Call 602-252-0472.

Swizzle Inn

It’s a tradition of many Valley drinkers to spend their holidays perched on a bar stool at Swizzle Inn, 5835 North 16th Street, and the staff at the landmark CenPho dive is more than happy to oblige them. “It will be business as usual,” one employee told Phoenix New Times. They’ll be pouring drinks from 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. both days. Call 602-277-7775.

Casino Arizona

It’s absolutely, positively guaranteed that local gambling establishments will be open on any holiday. As such, Casino Arizona, 524 North 92nd Street in Scottsdale, will have several of its bars serving drinks on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Call 480-850-7777.

Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino

The same goes for Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard in Chandler, which will offer its array of gaming thrills and well-stocked bars to drinkers or anyone else who’s feeling lucky.

Giligin’s

The off-kilter and island-themed dive bar Giligin’s, 4251 North Winfield Scott Plaza in Scottsdale, will open at 6 a.m. on both holidays. Expect the usual amount of sass and debauchery from the staff. Call 480-874-2264.

TT Roadhouse

Stop by TT Roadhouse, 2915 North 68th Street in Scottsdale, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and feel free to partake in a few pints, fire up some tunes on its famed jukebox, raise a toast to its late owner Richard “Rick” Skoog, or strike up a conversation with one of the regulars (who might just become your new best friends). The place will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday. Call 480-947-8723.

Mary X-Mas

This infamous annual Christmas rave returns on Saturday, December 25, at an off-the-radar indoor location in downtown Phoenix. Local DJs Kronos, Metazone, Gimmie, Carmen Rae, and Deejay DMX will perform during the eight-hour event, which kicks off at 8 p.m. and keeps going until 4 a.m. If you want to engage in something livelier than dancing, a snowball fight is planned. A smoothie bar and food vendors will also be part of the festivities. Tickets are $15 online, $25 at the door. Text 602-802-9448 on the night of the party or visit the Facebook event page for more details.

Stand Up Live

Comedian and actor Adam Ray (who’s appeared on such shows as Silicon Valley, Workaholics, and Curb Your Enthusiasm) will take the stage at Stand Up Live, 50 West Jefferson Street, on Saturday, December 25. Performances will take place at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 (plus the usual two-drink minimum). Call 480-719-6100.

Valley Bar

The proprietors of Valley Bar, 130 North Central Avenue, will open the downtown drinkery, hangout, and music venue 8 a.m. on Christmas Day. That evening, DJ Aw.Dre will be in the mix during the “Most Necessary Hip-Hop” night starting at 10 p.m. Admission is free. Call 602-368-3121.