City commissioners at their meeting this morning are scheduled to give permission for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce to host a communitywide party downtown in mid-September.

Chamber leaders are planning the second annual Get Downtown event for Sept. 14. Commissioners are being asked to approve a permit that would allow Eighth Street from Massachusetts to New Hampshire streets to be closed from noon to 1 a.m. the day of the event.

The event – which coincides with Kansas University’s Family Weekend – will feature three bands, about a half-dozen food vendors and a beer garden.

The first band is scheduled to begin about 5 p.m., and the last band is scheduled to end at 10 p.m. Clean-up will be completed by 1 a.m. Admission to the event will be free.

City commissioners also are being asked to contribute $5,000 to the event. Commissioners will consider the requests as part of their meeting at 9 a.m. today at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.