Looking for a spooky night out this Halloween season? You should visit the Carnival of Shadows pop-up bar inside the Whisper Mill Speakeasy at 14 Mill Market in Nixa, MO. The hidden speakeasy has been transformed into a creepy carnival with sad-clown portraits, masks on the back bar, big top tent fabric overhead, and candles dripping wax on every table.
This isn't our first Whisper Mill pop-up. Josh and I loved A Love Letter for Valentine's Day, so we had to check out the Halloween version.
Making Reservations
Reservations are $10 per person and guarantee your seat, plus they include a welcome cocktail. Walk-ins are welcome based on availability, but seats fill up fast, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Carnival of Shadows runs Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to close through October 31, so there are only a couple of weekends left!
The Cocktails
Every cocktail on the menu is named after a circus act, and the garnishes go all in on the theme. Here are the four we tried.
The Popcorn Zebra
Brown butter washed Knob Creek Single Barrel, chocolate, caramel, popcorn tincture
A bourbon drink that tastes like the concession stand, topped with a skewer of chocolate-drizzled popcorn. It's the most spirit-forward drink on the menu.
The Fire Breather Marg
Ghost tequila, triple sec, lime, watermelon, blackberry, honey
A pretty pink marg served in a coupe with a dried lime wheel. The Ghost tequila brings a little heat, and the watermelon and blackberry keep it fruity.
Frosted Menagerie
Espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur, red velvet syrup, cake tincture, icing, sprinkles
A red velvet espresso martini with a rainbow sprinkle rim and a pink frosted animal cracker on top. So fun to look at!
Zoltar's Fortune
Passionfruit, blueberry, dry curaçao, Hornitos Plata, lime
Served in a big goblet with mist curling over the top, like a crystal ball. Bright and fruity with passionfruit and blueberry.
Food Options
The pop-up has its own small food menu, and you can also bring in food from any of the 10 restaurants inside 14 Mill Market. We tried two of the Carnival of Shadows snacks.
Freak Show Fire Shrimp
Crispy fried shrimp, Nashville seasoning, buffalo sauce, ranch drizzle
Our favorite of the two. They were flavorful and had a nice crispy coating to them.
Fun House Bites
Crispy mac and cheese bites, fried cheese squares, marinara
Good and easy to share, though the mozzarella bites were a little sweet, which we didn't expect.
The Menus
Here's the full Carnival of Shadows menu. The items we tried are marked.
Final Thoughts
We loved the creepy clown ambiance under the big top carnival tent. It's such a fun way to celebrate Halloween! We also love how intimate and exclusive the experience feels, since seats fill up fast.
The drinks were a little sweeter than we prefer, but they were all fun and well themed for Halloween. Both snacks were good, but we liked the shrimp the best.
If you're looking for a fun Halloween date night or girls' night out, grab a reservation before the carnival leaves town on October 31!
Hi, I'm Anne Mueller
I love reviewing restaurants, hotels, pop-ups, bars and experiences of all kinds, usually with my husband Josh along for the ride. I'll always give you the honest scoop on what we loved and what to order.
Have a restaurant, hotel or experience you'd like reviewed? Email me at andrea@socialontheside.com.