Booking a Holiday Party Venue in Brooklyn in September: What's Still Open

Here's the honest state of December: the mega-venues and the first three Fridays commit absurdly early, but September is still a genuinely good month to book a holiday party in Brooklyn — especially for small teams, who have more flexibility than they think. The planners searching right now aren't late; they're right on time for everything except the two or three most-fought-over dates.

Bat Haus is an event venue at 459 Grand Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and we've hosted company holiday parties since 2012. This is the September playbook: what goes first, what's still open, and how to lock a date this week.

Is it too late to book a December holiday party venue?

No — September is actually the peak booking month, which means dates are moving fast but plenty remain. What goes first is predictable: the first three Fridays of December, then the remaining Fridays, then early-December Saturdays. What stays open longest: weekday evenings, Sundays, and the week of December 14 onward. If your team can celebrate on a Wednesday or Thursday, you're not compromising — you're outsmarting the calendar, and your favorite caterer will be available too.

How much does a holiday party venue in Brooklyn cost?

At Bat Haus, weekend holiday parties start at $1,350 flat for a five-hour rental for up to 50 guests, and weekday parties run $275 per hour with a 4-hour minimum. The flat, BYO structure is the whole game for small-team budgets: no corkage, no catering minimums, no per-head markup — so your budget goes into food and drinks people actually like instead of a banquet package. For a 30-person team, that's often half the cost of a comparable per-head venue, with the private backyard and both floors included. Details are on our holiday party venue page.

What makes a holiday party people actually want to attend?

A space that doesn't feel like a conference room, food your team chose, and one thing to do besides stand with a drink. Our two floors handle that naturally — dinner and toasts on one, lounging and games on the other, string lights and paper lanterns doing the atmosphere work. For the activity, a hands-on lamp-making workshop turns the party into the gift: everyone designs and paints a lamp to take home, which beats any branded swag order you were about to make. More small-team ideas live in our small company holiday party guide.

How do you lock a date quickly?

Come with three options, not one. The teams that book fastest send a headcount, a shortlist of two or three dates, and a rough start time — that's enough for a same-day yes. Then work backward: venue first, food second (BYO means any caterer, restaurant order, or potluck works), activity third. The invite can go out the same week, and a party announced in September gets attendance a mid-November scramble never does.

What about a holiday party that isn't in December at all?

The January holiday party is quietly becoming the smart small-team move: every date is open, everyone's calendar is empty, and the team gets something to look forward to in the bleakest month. If your December is genuinely full, ask us about January — the venue is the same warm, light-filled space, and the pressure is gone.

FAQs

How many people fit for a holiday party at Bat Haus?
Up to 50 guests across two floors, with a private backyard, sound system, and setup and cleanup included.

Can we bring our own food and alcohol?
Yes — fully BYO with no corkage and no catering minimums. Caterers, restaurant trays, and your own bar all work.

What's the cheapest way to do a December party?
A weekday evening at $275 per hour with a 4-hour minimum — the space is identical, and weekday December dates stay open longest.

Can we add an activity to the party?
Yes — the lamp-making workshop is the most-booked holiday add-on, turning the party activity into everyone's take-home gift.

Planning your team's December? Send your headcount and two or three date options → — we'll tell you what's open this week.