The Niles Bluegrass Festival will return to the city this spring for a 12th time, but without a financial donation from the city.

On Monday, the city council voted to approve a request by the Riverfront Optimist Club to conduct the festival at Riverfront Park May 29 through June 1. However, the council stopped short of providing a $2,900 donation to the festival as requested by the Optimist Club.

Council members were split on the issue, with David Mann, Scott Clark, Bill Weimer and Georgia Boggs voting in favor of a motion to not include the donation. Mayor Mike McCauslin broke the 4-4 vote by siding with those opposed to the donation.

Opponents said the city should not be spending money on festivals, while proponents argued that festivals create revenue for local businesses.

Included in the motion was a request by the Optimist Club to conduct bluegrass concerts at the Riverfront Amphitheater every Thursday evening following the festival and continuing through Aug. 28. The bluegrass concerts will replace the Thursday night concerts offered by the city’s parks and recreation department. Lisa Croteau said the parks board decided to drop the concerts due to lack of funding.

The council also gave the green light to several other spring/summer events, including:

• Bring It Cruise In and Car Show each Wednesday from 5 to 10 p.m. June 4 to Aug. 27 in downtown Niles.

• Memorial Day Parade from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Monday, May 26 in the downtown.

• Niles Art Association’s annual children’s book display in downtown Niles from July 18 to Aug. 4.

• Niles-Buchanan YMCA’s annual Day in the Park from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at the Riverfront Amphitheater.