If there’s one thing I don’t understand about the Bessie Smith Strut, it’s why we need those banners saying “Welcome to the Bessie Smith Strut.”

Seriously, if you can’t figure out where you are by the electric wail of three stages of blues artists, the heady aroma of dozens of barbecue vendors and the seemingly endless crowd of people stretching for blocks down M.L. King Boulevard, find another block party to crash.

About an hour before Jason “Lefty” Williams was set to light up the MLK Stage just past University Street, I ran into Friends of the Festival talent coordinator Dixie Fuller as he set about relocating one of these (superfluous) welcome banners.

As anyone can see just by looking at the human patchwork quilt making up the milling mass of strutters, the Strut is all about Chattanooga coming together, Mr. Fuller said.

“I think everybody gets that,” he said. “Everybody dances and gets along. It’s a lot of people’s favorite nights.”

A few songs into Williams’ set, I was limping my way up toward Bessie Smith Hall where Deacon Bluz and Holy Smoke were sending a stream of electric soul into the air when I was stopped by longtime strutter Thad Hightower.

Hightower is a Chattanooga native who immigrated to Winchester, Tenn., some time ago. This year, he returned with his wife and children.

At first blush, the Strut seems to be equal parts about blues music and grilled meat, but strutting is as social as it is musical and culinary, Mr. HIghtower said.

“The Strut is about coming to see people I used to be around back in the day when I was down here,” he said. “ I’m just here to enjoy it all. I plan to go back down and listen to all (the artists) and enjoy myself.”

Thanks to my club foot, I wasn’t doing much strutting Monday, much less dancing — though I did briefly contemplate hijacking an old lady’s powered wheelchair — but as usual, I found myself falling in love with the Strut all over again.

Looking out at so many of us walking together, sharing the same musical experience and avoiding the same wandering souvenir salesmen, I can’t help but think it represents Chattanooga at its best.

On second thought, maybe the banners are a good thing. Maybe some people need a helping hand to join the fun, and they certainly capture the Strut’s spirit of inclusiveness.

As far as I’m concerned, anything that brings more people to the party is a good thing.