It’s a shame when the light goes out of an animal’s eyes. But Salty the Seahorse’s blinker will get a new chance to shine this weekend, just in time for the holidays.

The eye on the Mattapoisett statue, located at Dunseith Gardens on Route 6, stopped working several years ago, said Mattapoisett Land Trust President Gary Johnson.

“We’re hoping it will be lit up soon and Salty will have his hat again for the holidays,” said Johnson.

The Trust, which owns Salty and Dunseith Gardens, is using funds left over from the statue's renovation in the 1990s to relight the eye.

Martin Hudis, a member of the Trust, has been working on the new system that includes a six-foot solar panel, over three times the size of the old one.

“We don’t have electricity on the land and have chosen not to so we can reduce the carbon footprint,” said Hudis.

The new system will allow the Trust to provide lighting for evening events in the park. It may also be used to highlight Salty at night.

“We’re putting in an auxiliary outlet so maybe we can run a spotlight on it during the holidays,” said Hudis.

Hudis and other members of the Trust plan to be at the property on Saturday morning to install the panel and a new bulb for Salty's eye.

“It is a very high efficiency LED lamp with a long life,” said Hudis.

While they've got the electric lift for the installation, the Trust will also put on Salty’s red holiday hat.