LOWER MERION – A Japanese festival is coming back to Ardmore this September.

Lower Merion commissioners approved a waiver for the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP) to permit people to possess open containers with alcohol and serve alcoholic beverages in public rights-of-way within regulated areas for its fall festival on Saturday, Sept. 12, between 2 and 9 p.m.

“Aki Matsuri, or Harvest (or Fall) Festival, is a celebration of the upcoming harvest in Japan. This Aki Matsuri celebration will include traditional Japanese games, activities, music, and dancing, as well as food and drink. The festival is designed to be fun for families and people for all ages,” according to township documents.

A longstanding local Ardmore business, Maido!, is partnering to provide food and vending services alongside a list of vendors, including Tired Hands Brewery, which will operate a portion of the space.

“This is a special event process that goes through a system whereby it’s reviewed by our emergency providers, police department, fire department,” said Ernie McNeely, township manager, when asked by a commissioner about the township’s review of these types of events.

McNeely said the township ensures that, if they are using a road or vehicle access, proper barriers are in place. They also require that the organizers have the proper insurance in place, with the township named as an additional insured. The township code requires the commissioners to waive the no-alcohol provision in public spaces. So that’s why these end up coming before the board of commissioners.

Commissioner Daniel Bernheim asked McNeely about the township being compensated for the parking meters that cannot be used during the event.

According to McNeely, it’s common at these types of special events that the organizer pay a fee for each parking meter.

The township staff’s issue briefing to the commissioners included information about the fee being paid for the parking meters.

“The Township will be compensated for Lot 6, Schauffele Plaza, parking meters for the day. A total of 87 parking spaces will be compensated, with 72 parking spots in Schauffele and 15 along Cricket Terrace, with the adjacent “triangle lot” along Cricket Terrace open for public parking. Each meter will cost $5.00 for the day. The 87 meters included in this proposal will result in $435.00 payment to the Township and require installation of signs 24 hours before the event,” township documents read.