Miracle on University: Christmas-themed pop-up bar lifting holiday spirits in Gainesville

A new Christmas-themed pop-up bar in downtown Gainesville is hoping to make the holidays a little bit merrier this year.

The Miracle on University is taking over the inside of Cry Baby's and Baby J's, 1 W. University Ave., most nights through Dec. 30.

Complete with over-the-top decorations, music and holiday-themed drinks, Miracle describes itself as offering "the nostalgic energy of the best office party you've ever been to," according to its website.

Owner Kyle Spor said the decor inside Cry Baby's offers a more "tacky, wild Christmas," while Baby J's is decorated a little more "classy."

"We redo our whole menu, so it's all new cocktails for the month of December," he said. "People love Christmas and people love sweet cocktails, so we've got a win-win."

Spor said each bar is responsible for their own decorations, but that Miracle sends along its detailed recipes and prep lists.

Among the more than 10 specialty drink options available this year are the Christmapolitan, Snowball Old-Fashioned and Hot Buttered Rum.

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Started in New York City in 2014, Miracle's brand has gone global with pop-ups in Canada, the Cayman Islands, England, Panama and across the U.S. this year.

The Gainesville location — which kicked off Nov. 24 — is among 12 in Florida, with others in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Tampa.

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Madrina's, which closed in late 2022, previously hosted the pop-up experience in Gainesville.

The Miracle on University runs Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Cry Baby's and Baby J's in Gainesville hosting Christmas pop-up bar