Ballard Holiday Festival set to kick off festive season this weekend

The Ballard business community is coming together to give back this holiday season with some extra special events for both locals and visitors to enjoy.

The events are coined “Ballard Gives Black Friday“, that will of course take place this Friday, November 28, and “Ballard Gives Holiday Light Celebration“, set for this Saturday, November 29.

Ballard Gives Black Friday puts a community twist on the traditional day-after Thanksgiving Day shopping event. Rather than offering early morning discount sales, many stores in Ballard will be donating a portion of their Black Friday sales to local non-profits.

The non-profits include the Ballard Boys and Girls Club, the Ballard Food Bank, Heroes for the Homeless and many more. The local stores participating include Ballard Beer Company, Horseshoe Boutique, Romanza, Sip and Ship and many more. For a full list of participating stores and the non-profits that they have chosen click here.

Shoppers who want to give back this Black Friday should look for the “Ballard Gives Black” logo (pictured) in store front windows.

After recovering from the shopping sprees in Ballard on Friday, all are invited to Marvin’s Garden Park (Ballard Ave NW and 22nd Ave NW) from noon on Saturday, November 29,  for the “Ballard Holiday Festival.” This is the second year of the event that will feature live music, free goodies and beverages, and a chance for the little ones to have a free photo taken with Santa. Check out the events list below:

• Live Entertainment from noon – 4 p.m. at the Bell Tower at Marvin’s Garden Park
• Cookie decorating and ornament making from noon – 4 p.m. in Marvin’s Garden Park
• Photos with Santa from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. in Marvin’s Garden Park
• Holiday Jazz Trio at 3 p.m. at Marvin’s Garden Park Stage
• Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5 p.m. at Marvin’s Garden Park Stage
• Christmas Rock Youth Band from 5:15 p.m.

A number of local businesses are also participating in a fun treat giveaway called the Tomte Trail. Businesses displaying a Tomte Trail poster will be distributing special treats from 2 to 6 pm.

“The lights are up,” says Mike Stewart, executive director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, “and Ballard is ready to celebrate! From the philanthropy happening on Friday, to the free entertainment planned on Saturday, this is a great weekend to enjoy all that Ballard has to offer.”