It’s been a long time coming, but the final touchups are being completed on the Riverfront Amphitheater.

The theater’s completion date has been pushed back a handful of times since its construction began in 2012, but it is expected to be ready to host the Riverfront Park Music and Arts Festival on Labor Day.

Mayor George Evans said there will be a meeting next week to discuss what’s needed to finish the project. One of the major things still remaining on the to-do list is adding lighting to the building, which will also have a stage and restrooms.

One thing it won’t have is a sound system, which means bands that play there will have to bring their own equipment.

Despite that, we hope the community is excited about the amphitheater and will support it when it is ready to open its doors. It’ll host the Blackbelt Benefit Group’s Labor Day concert, which will include the Dead Fingers, the John Bull Band, the Kenny Brown Band, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Tickets are $10 apiece on the Blackbelt Benefit Group website.

We’re hopeful that’s the first concert of many at the amphitheater, as Selma continues to grow its riverfront. Evans alluded to the city still having “room for a lot more work we’re going to do later on”, which presumably means there could be some kind of expansion in the future.

For that to happen and for artists to want to play there, Selma is going to show that it will support the amphitheater.

Although it’s been a long time since it was first planned, we’re hopeful the amphitheater becomes a popular spot for events and concerts and that the community is behind it from day one.