Toes were tapping and heads were bobbing Monday afternoon, as the amphitheater made its long-awaited debut with the Blackbelt Benefit Group’s (BBG) Riverfront Park Music and Arts Festival.

The amphitheater was officially opened in August, and the BBG was the first group to host an event at city’s new venue.

Plans for the amphitheater were developed nearly a decade ago, and construction started in 2012. After several delays due to weather and cuts to the original plans, the amphitheater was finally ready to host an event.

While its debut was delayed time after time, it did not disappoint Monday’s crowd for the Labor Day festivities.

“It’s great to see it in action. It looks wonderful,” said Lee Calame, as he listened to the Kenny Brown Band perform.

Calame wasn’t the only one impressed with the amphitheater’s first show.

“It’s a very cool venue. I’m surprised,” said Brandon Gibbs.

“I think it’s got great potential to pull in artists, especially if they bring back market days and things like that and open this up. It’s a really cool venue.”

Monday’s festival featured a lineup of bands that also included Dead Fingers, the John Bull Band and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Gibbs said it took a while to see the amphitheater come to fruition, but he is excited to see it finally open.

“I kept in touch with people that were doing it. They said it was a slow process and all,” Gibbs said. “It was definitely slow, but they’ve done a really good job. I like how they incorporated the old buildings that were there and made it look like Selma. It doesn’t take away from anything surrounding it at all.”

Calame, a Selma banker and chairman of the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said the venue could have a direct impact on businesses downtown.

“It’s going to be a great venue. We’re going to be able to bring not only the locals that are here in Selma and Dallas County but the surrounding counties,” Calame said.

“Hopefully it’ll increase some river traffic coming down from Montgomery, maybe even up from Camden. Hopefully it’ll help the businesses in downtown with walking traffic.”

Even though the amphitheater is officially open, it still has work to be done to make it a top quality venue. It was opened with the bare minimum that was needed to host events.

People that attended the event said the city could add its own sound equipment, more lighting, restrooms, seating and more.