Our Story

Where do we begin sharing the story behind the 12 Bars of Christmas?

First, we need to travel back 8 years to the city of Nashville, TN, where our founder and owner of Lucky 12 Tavern, Mark Ballog, discovered his first Christmas pop-up bar. Finding a secret magical place on Christmas Eve, mixed with the pure joy of people gathering there to celebrate, was mesmerizing. He decided at that moment that his restaurant would become “Jingle 12” the following year.

If you know Mark, you know he has a passion for collecting and never wastes a minute! He began gathering vintage lighted blow molds, ceramics, and melted popcorn decorations from across the East Coast, creating a one-of-a-kind display that reminds generations of their beloved holiday traditions. On December 5, 2019, Jingle 12 opened its doors for the first time, and that was just the beginning!

In 2022, he gathered his friends at Mama Kwan’s, Goombays, and Bonzer Shack to join the fun. We like to call those four the OG Bars of Christmas, but let’s be honest: Jingle 12 will go down in history as the original Outer Banks Christmas pop-up!

In 2023, eight more restaurants and bars said “yes” to Mark’s crazy and brilliant idea to form the official 12 Bars of Christmas. We gathered monthly with a shared goal: give people a reason to visit the Outer Banks in December and give our local businesses and staff a stronger off-season. And let’s just say… there was a lot more to it than hanging a few Christmas lights!

Each location committed to going ALL-IN with a unique theme, new outdoor signage, elaborate decorations, special events, and, of course, holiday food, drinks, and kids’ menus. We also teamed up with OBX Party Bus to make the ride between bars part of the immersive experience. Behind it all were months of planning, designing, and working as a team to bring this idea to life.

The next order of business came from the heart: how could we make this an event that honored the giving spirit of Saint Nicholas? That’s where the Passport Challenge came in—a way to explore the 12 Bars of Christmas while giving back to the community we call home. Guests who collect stamps at all 12 locations receive a keepsake ornament and are entered into a drawing for some pretty incredible prizes. Each bar teams up with a local charity, and 100% of the money raised through passport sales goes to that charity.

Our first year, we raised over $28,000 for local charities, and the Passport Challenge has raised over $100,000 to date! To make that generosity a lasting tradition, we partnered with the Outer Banks Community Foundation to establish the 12 Bars of Christmas Fund, allowing our charitable efforts to grow right alongside the event.

The economic impact reaches far beyond the 12 Bars of Christmas and our charity partners. The event has brought in thousands of visitors who are booking lodging, shopping locally, and supporting all types of local businesses at a time of year when that support is needed most. As an employer, it means so much to know this event is helping 500+ restaurant workers earn a living and support their families during what used to be one of our slowest months.

But some of the best parts of this event can’t be measured in dollars. It’s giving local charities another way to educate and connect with people. It’s knowing that small business owners have our back through their generous sponsorships. It’s homeowners joining in by decorating their vacation rentals to give guests a little extra Christmas cheer. It’s customers gathering with friends, inviting someone out who might otherwise spend the holidays alone, and welcoming out of town visitors to share the excitement with them. There’s something so special about seeing an entire community come together and grow this event into something bigger than any of us could have imagined.

We have transformed our once sleepy sandbar into a Christmas island destination and it’s such an honor to be part of holiday traditions, experiences and fond memories for so many families and friends from near and far.