Capitol Hill’s Queer/Bar is turning into the Christmas Dive Bar for the holidays

The Christmas Dive Bar past

11th Ave is set to once again be Capitol Hill’s North Pole but this time the Christmas Dive Bar is taking over Queer/Bar.

“These past few months have been tough for queer bars and nightclubs across the city and country—this has been true for us as well,” the 1th Ave gay bar and drag venue’s management said in Monday’s announcement of the temporary switch. “We are investing all our efforts into this pop-up as a new way to sustain our programming throughout the year. Eight weeks of Christmas will help us pave the way for 44 weeks of Queer/Bar experiences in 2026.”

Work is underway to redecorate and welcome the first holiday bar customers this month. The Christmas Dive Bar has also announced a “How the Queens Stole Christmas” drag brunch and matinee series slated to run in the bar on weekends “through the holiday season.”

No opening date for this latest version of the dive bar pop-up has been announced but expect a debut soon.

The takeover of Queer/Bar with seasonal decorations and festive cocktails will continue a run of the Christmas Dive Bar concept that debuted in a nearby former nightclub space in 2023.

“We all just felt like being creative,” Joey Burgess said of the concept at the time as he and husband and co-owner Murf Hall were gearing up for their first holiday season  “It just seemed like a good opportunity to activate a space that would be fun for the neighborhood right in the heart of the pipeline corridor.”

After experimenting with other pop-up concepts in the club and another holiday run last December, the space formerly used by the Dive Bar is now set to grow as the home of all-ages venue Eleven : Eleven.

Meanwhile, Queer/Bar is taking on a new challenge as it enters its ninth year on 11th Ave. Earlier this year, the Queer/Bar business family downsized as a new owner stepped forward at 14th Ave’s The Cuff.

With the potential holiday boost in revenue too good to pass up for the business and its employees, Queer/Bar will now make room for holiday lights, Christmas trees, and Santa. If you look behind the beard, you might recognize the face.

“We ask you to support us during this time and hope you’ll visit,” Queer/Bar said in the announcement. “You can expect to see familiar faces bringing a touch of holiday cheer.”

The Christmas Dive Bar can be found this year at 1518 11th Ave. Watch for updates at christmasdivebar.com.

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