By Staci Jones | The Selma Times-Journal

The Blackbelt Benefit Group will host the kickoff event for the Selma Riverfront Park Amphitheater on Labor Day.

The Music and Arts Festival hosted by the nonprofit organization will be Sept. 7 and will be the first major event held in the Riverfront Amphitheater, which has been under construction since 2008.

“We want the event to resemble Old Market Day that used to take place on Water Street,” said Emily Hancock, a Blackbelt Benefit Group member.

Like Market Day, the event will host quality artisan vendors. Along with vendors, there will be food trucks, homebrew competitions, kid zones and lots of music.

“The music groups that we have performing hit a broad spectrum of fans so we will be able to appeal to a wide audience,” said Paul Wilkerson, another Blackbelt Benefit Group member. “The event will set a great tone to show what the area can do for Selma.”

Some of the performing artists include Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Kenny Brown Band, John Bull Band and Dead Fingers.

Hosting the event in the amphitheater will bring “something new to Selma,” Hancock said.

“It will highlight the Riverfront Park in itself and show all of the possibilities it can give the city,” she said.

The money raised from the event will go back into the group’s charitable work in the community.

Tickets are $10 and admission is free to all children under 12. Tickets can be purchased online at www.blackbeltbenefitgroup.org/ticket-sales/.

The event will commence at noon and will close with a firework show at 8 p.m.