With Thanksgiving approaching, Ballardites can be assured that their city-village will be a "clean, well-lighted place" for the holidays for years to come.

Due to a loss of funding, the holiday lights on Market Street and Ballard Avenue have been missing for the last couple years.

On Nov. 22 it was announced that a 25 thousand dollar Neighborhood Matching Fund Grant was awarded to Ballard by the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods. The grant will leverage private dollars in order to help make sure holiday lighting will be something the community sees every year.

The match funds apply to the lighting on Market Street, Ballard Avenue, and 22nd Avenue. The lighting is also going toward lighting in Marvin’s Garden Park and Bergen Park, which had been lit for the holidays the last couple years thanks to the Ballard Merchant Association.

Mike Stewart, Executive Director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, explained that the holiday aesthetics could make a real difference for local economy.

“Our goal is to make Ballard a very inviting place over the holiday season, and the lighting is going to help with that. Hopefully we draw more shoppers and diners here. …We would love to see more dollars spent at our independent restaurants and shops, rather than at large corporations outside of Ballard,” said Stewart

Stewart said that the return of the holiday lighting was a collaborative effort made by volunteers, merchants, businesses, property owners, the Department of Neighborhoods and the Ballard Chamber.

“We were able to leverage dollars from the Chamber, volunteers, business owners and property owners to fund the match and also do a little more than what the grant allows use to,” said Stewart

That "little more" Stewart is referring to is the “Ballard Gives Holiday Lights Celebration.” In honor of the holiday lights returning to Ballard, the Ballard Chamber is hosting a celebration party on Nov. 30 at Marvin’s Garden Park, starting at 2 p.m.

The celebration features a tree lighting ceremony, holiday refreshments and Santa Claus. Youngsters are advised to bring their Christmas lists.

Moreover, there will be three musical guests performing on the park stage: Ann Merryfield Jazz Trio, Market Street Singers and Los Gentleman.

“The extensive lighting effort to make the Market Street and the Ballard Avenue corridors shine brighter this years has made the 2013 holiday season more festive than ever before,” said Stewart.

Here is a listing of the events:

2 – 5 p.m. -- Free Photos with Santa & Complimentary Treats and Beverages (Bell Tower @ Marvin’s Garden Park)

3 – 4:50 p.m. -- Ann Merryfield Jazz Trio (Marvin’s Garden Park Stage)

5 p.m. -- Tree Lighting Ceremony (Marvin’s Garden Park)

5 – 5:30 p.m.-- Market Street Singers (Marvin’s Garden Park)

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. -- Los Gentlemen (Marvin’s Garden Park Stage)

For more information visit: http://ballardchamber.com/ballardgivesblack