What’s happening?
Over two dozen local downtown shops will offer homemade wassail, or mulled apple cider, along with holiday sweets. Attendees will have the option to vote for their favorites during the event, Joyce said.
What you need to know
Attendees must check in at one of two booths that will be set up along Main Street near Calvary and the museum. After registering, those age 21 and older will receive a wristband indicating they are old enough to be served wassail with alcohol—though nonalcoholic wassail will also be available.
Attendees will also receive a commemorative mug and shopping tote on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as a map showing which businesses are participating, Joyce said.
Although registration should be done the day of the event, preregistration is encouraged to help officials estimate the amount of swag and wassail needed for the event.
What else?
Wassail Fest will coincide with the grand opening day for the Holiday Traditions exhibit at the Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center, as well.
This year, the city’s annual tree-lighting ceremony will happen along with the grand opening of the River of Lights on Nov. 29. In years past, the Wassail Fest and the tree-lighting ceremony were on the same day.
“We wanted to separate the events, with the tree-lighting being a family-friendly event, and Wassail Fest being geared more toward adults and shopping locally," Joyce said. “It’s really going to be a unique, Hallmark Christmas downtown experience.”
One more thing
A raffle will happen each hour during Wassail Fest, Joyce said.
Rules for the raffle include:
- Post a photo of yourself during Wassail Fest at any participating downtown Bastrop business.
- Tag both @DowntownBastrop and the business you're visiting.
- Use the hashtag #BastropWassailFest24 in your post.
Joyce said each post qualifies as one entry into the raffle.
- Nov. 30, 4-8 p.m.
- Free (admission, wassail)
- Downtown Bastrop
- Facebook: Downtown Bastrop
