FRANKFORT, Ky. — As of this weekend, you can buy a cocktail to-go and walk around with it in a new entertainment district in downtown Frankfort. 

At Mortimer Bibb’s Public House, Karl Lawrence was making blueberry syrup for a blueberry lavender lemonade with vodka Friday. 

Lawrence's pub is one of several participating restaurants and bars in the new Entertainment Destination Center known as the MIX District.

“We’re very happy that it’s here because it allows people to come down and experience all of downtown, not just one particular bar or restaurant," Lawrence said. 

The pub was supposed to open last April, but that got pushed back because of the pandemic. Lawrence has been working with the city on plans for the new district, he said.

"It really helps develop the sense of community and that’s something that we really want here in Frankfort is a good sense of community," he said.

The plan had been in the works for a few years, according to Blair Hecker, the project specialist for Community Engagement with the city of Frankfort.

"It’s going to be something that is going to provide a lasting economic benefit by hopefully drawing in more crowds of people to our downtown bars and restaurants to get drinks to-go, to walk around, visit adjoining shops," she said. 

At Capital Cellars Wine & Spirits Cafe Market, Keith Douglas was setting up the tent that never got used last year. 

“It’s exciting to have everybody coming back out, finally," he said. 

The shop planned to offer wine tastings for the first night of the new district. Douglas was ready to see more events downtown, he said. 

"Downtown needs it and everybody needs it," he said. "It’s time."

Open containers are only allowed in the designated area between 4:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.