City Council members this week agreed to give organizers of Tongie Days its traditional $7,500 in city funding to help stage the event, and leaders were told interest in the celebration is growing.

Monica Gee — president of the Tonganoxie Business Association, which organizes the celebration — told council members at their meeting this week that about 50 vendors have signed up for the event that is set for Sept. 16.

“That’s already more than we had last year,” Gee said.

Gee said the event is opening up an additional block in the downtown area to accommodate vendors. Vendor applications are still being taken through the “Tongie Days” Facebook page.

Gee said multiple food trucks are slated to come to the event, and several buskers — street style performers — have expressed an interest in participating in the event too. Bands currently are being booked for the celebration, she said.

Organizers decided to hire a company to provide a petting zoo for the event rather than relying on volunteers to organize a collection of animals. She also said that plans are in the works for the high school to have its annual car show on the same day as Tongie Days, which will provide an additional attraction and also will give visitors a reason to see a larger area of the community.