The City Beer Board on Thursday gave approval of the Bessie Smith Strut request to extend its beer-selling hours to 9:30 p.m. instead of last year’s 8:30.
Beer Board Chairman Chris Keene thanked Bessie Smith officials and merchants for their patience while getting the paperwork in line on the request.
Three weeks ago, paperwork problems caused a delay until the June 7 meeting.
Andrew Jackson II said, after talking with police officials, he decided to request a one-hour extension instead of two hours.
He said he hopes to phase in the 10:30 cutoff next year if all goes well for the 9:30 cutoff this year.
There are 14 beer vendors on the list.
After a fatal shooting just after the close of the Bessie Smith Strut in 2003, officials moved the hours up so that it would be finished before dark.
The Bessie Smith Strut is the only event of the Riverbend Festival away from the main site at Ross's Landing Park.