Residents and guests of the 109 enjoyed wine and wassail while strolling through Bluebonnet Circle at a new holiday event.

Bluebonnet Village hosted the first Wine and Wassail Walk Saturday, Dec. 2.

The event was created to foster community engagement and raise money for an improvement plan for Bluebonnet Park, said, Angie Watts, president of the Bluebonnet Place Neighborhood Association.

“It just kind of creates that tone of a small community even though we’re right in the middle of Fort Worth,” Watts said. “When you see your neighbors out and your community come out, it’s really fun.”

Guests who purchased a $10 collectible wine glass received a ticket for wine and appetizer samples from local businesses around the circle. Guests could also purchase a $5 cup to get hot wassail.

Volunteers used stop signs to slow traffic and ensure the safety of people walking around the circle, Watts said.

In the park at the center of the circle, guests could enjoy free cookies, hot chocolate and a holiday-themed photo booth.

Members of the choir from St. Andrew’s Catholic Church walked through the circle singing Christmas carols.

Kim Kopf, one of the owners of Trio Hair Concepts, said she wanted to participate in the event because of her love for Bluebonnet Circle and Bluebonnet Park.

“We love that we can look out our big window and see the park,” she said. “We would love for events to happen here and for it to be a destination instead of just a drive through.”

Watts said she was impressed by the participation of the local businesses in the event who “went over the top” in creating their tables for wine and wassail samples.

Local artists and small business owners set up tables to display and sell their products to people walking through the event.

One attendee, Star Schott, said she heard about the event on Facebook and decided to come because “it’s good to support local businesses.”

Walking through the circle offered guests a chance to learn about local businesses in the circle, said Chris Rathburn.

Rathburn, who lived behind Bluebonnet Circle while attending TCU a few years ago, said attending the Wine and Wassail Walk gave him a new appreciation for the Bluebonnet Circle.

“I didn’t think about it a whole lot back then, but now I think this place is pretty cool,” he said. “I didn’t know there was a junk store, I didn’t know there was a comic book store. I’m learning all kinds of things.”