Mayor George Evans is confident the amphitheater will be completed in time to host the Riverfront Park Music and Arts Festival on Labor Day.

The theater, which has been pushed back time and time again, will finally make its long-awaited debut.

“It’s good to have the amphitheater at a point where we can start using it since we’ve been waiting on it for a long time,” Evans said.

Planning for the amphitheater started a decade ago, and construction began in August 2012.

The contracted completion date was Feb. 14, 2015, but a number of factors caused the contractors to push the date back multiple times.

“It is way over the deadline in terms of the completion date, but it is in fact prepared to be operational,” Evans said. “We still have some room for a lot more work we’re going to do later on, but right now it’ll have basic things an amphitheater has for performances.”

Evans says it will provide the basic necessities that are needed for a performance.

“It’ll have lighting, restrooms, a stage area and things like that,” Evans said.

“It’ll be a work in progress even when it is open for performances because we’ve still got some things to do.”

One necessity that won’t be available at the amphitheater, at least for now, is a sound system.

“There is no sound system. Whoever the bands are, they will have to bring their own sound system,” Evans said.

Evans said most of the work is done, but there are some small details left to complete between now and Sept. 7.

“We’ll have another meeting next week to go through the punch list. There are just a few additional things that we’ve got to add on to it,” Evans said.

“We’ve got to get the lighting in. We’ve got to meet next week to get some necessary lighting in for the purpose of completion.”

Evans said the stage and concert area have been the main focus, but there is still work to be done on the wings that extend from the main building in the future.

“There is some work that is still incomplete as far as the wings that need to be completed, but the main area of the stage and the immediate concert area is ready to go,” Evans said.

“As more funds become available, we’ll develop all of the other areas of the theater that have not been developed yet.”

Evans expects the amphitheater to host a variety of events.

“There will be band performances, there can also be weddings, gospel programs, youth programs … there are a number of things that can be held there,” Evans said. “You name it, it can be held there.”