December Holiday Party in NYC: What's Actually Still Available

If you're planning a December holiday party in NYC right now, here's the honest picture: the first three Fridays of December are largely committed across the city, but weekday evenings, early-December Saturdays, and smaller venues still have real availability — if you move in the next few weeks. Every venue will tell you to "book early." What's more useful is knowing exactly what's left and how to get it.

Bat Haus is an event venue at 459 Grand Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and we've hosted December parties for small teams and groups since 2012. Here's how December availability actually works, what's still open, and how to lock a date this week.

Which December dates book first for holiday parties?

The first three Fridays of December go first, every year — most NYC venues have them committed by the end of August. After Fridays, the order is roughly: Thursdays in the two weeks before the winter break, then early-December Saturdays, then everything else. The dates that stay open longest are weekday evenings in the first half of December — which happen to be the dates most small teams actually prefer, since nobody loves giving up a Friday night for a work event.

What does a December party at Bat Haus cost?

Weekend holiday parties start at $1,350 flat for a five-hour rental for up to 50 guests, and weekday parties run $275/hour with a 4-hour minimum. Both include the full two-floor space, tables, chairs, sound system, string lights, and our private backyard — and because we're fully BYO with no corkage or catering markup, your budget goes to food and drinks your team actually likes. Compare that with Manhattan holiday venues at $150–$500 per head: for a 30-person team, that's $4,500–$15,000 before the venue even feels like yours.

Is a weekday holiday party a downgrade?

Not for small teams — it's usually the better party. A Thursday evening party means no one sacrifices their weekend, the commute home is the commute they already know, and the venue costs less ($275/hour weekday versus weekend flat rates). Teams that run theirs on a weekday also get first pick of caterers and activity slots, because they're not competing with weddings. The lamp-making workshop is the December favorite: about two hours, $105 per person, and everyone leaves with the holiday gift they made themselves — see our lamp-making workshop page for how it works.

How do you lock a December date in August?

One email with three things: your headcount, two or three date options in order of preference, and rough timing (evening versus afternoon). That's genuinely all we need to hold a date while you confirm internally. The teams that lose their first-choice date are almost never the ones who inquired late — they're the ones who inquired early and then took three weeks to circle back. We wrote the full timing breakdown in when to book a holiday party venue in NYC, but the short version: holding a date costs nothing, and waiting costs the date.

What makes a small-team December party work?

Three decisions, made once: the food (BYO from the team's favorite spot — Williamsburg's best are steps away), one activity, one toast. Everything else — setup, layout, cleanup, AV — our on-site host handles, so whoever organized the party actually gets to attend it. One floor holds the long dinner table, the other stays open for mingling, and the backyard gives people the fresh-air escape valve every good party needs.

FAQs

Are December Fridays still available at Bat Haus?
Some are — availability changes weekly at this point in the year, so the fastest answer is to email us your preferred date. Fridays go first; weekday evenings hold longest.

Can we bring our own food and alcohol?
Yes — Bat Haus is fully BYO with no corkage fee and no catering markup. A caterer, restaurant trays, or homemade dishes all work.

How many people fit for a holiday party?
Up to 50 guests across two floors, with tables, chairs, and a sound system included.

What if our headcount isn't final yet?
Book on your best estimate — the space works for 15 the same as it works for 50, so headcount changes don't put your date at risk.

Is there a deposit?
Reach out and we'll walk you through holding your date — an inquiry costs nothing and gets you a real answer on availability within the day.

Want a December date? Email us your headcount and top two dates → — we'll tell you exactly what's open this week.