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NILES — A longtime staple event returns to downtown Niles next week.

On Monday, the city council voted 7-1 to the Riverfront Optimist Club’s request to conduct the festival at Riverfront Park from Thursday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 4. However, the council stopped short of reimbursing the $100 late fee as requested by the Optimist Club.

Council members were split on the issue with four opposed and four against. Mayor Nick Shelton broke the 4-4 vote by siding with those opposed to the reimbursement, citing a desire to see applications turned in on time as it was their second offense this year after turning in the 2024 Bluegrass Festival application late. A new motion was then presented which approved the request sans the waiving of the late fee.

According to Shelton, the reason given by the ROC was that there are new volunteers within the organization that have taken on the projects.

“I think we have to set the precedent that if your application is late, there’s a penalty for that while still supporting the organizers in our community, especially as these new regulations come in from MDOT and for the events that require use of the roadway,” he said. “It’s just crucial that people get your applications in on time.”

The festival will feature bounce houses, games, music and food and craft vendors. The city will pay for utilities, police presence and police barricades for a total cost of $1,250.

Councilmember Michael Thompson cast the dissenting vote.

“I’m of the mind that we shouldn’t be paying for any of this anyway,” he said.