In less than two weeks, the sights and sounds of Martin Luther King will be transformed into the legendary street fest, The Bessie Smith Strut. The Strut is one of Chattanooga’s longstanding pre-summer events that have particularly brought so much enjoyment not only to Chattanooga residents but also to visitors to the Scenic City.
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center in partnership with the Friends of the Festival and the City of Chattanooga have made several improvements to this year’s Strut which will ensure the sustainability and longevity of this thirty-year tradition. The enhancements include enclosing the grounds of the street fest, enforcing a youth escort policy, imposing an admission price, and having both Chattanooga Police Department and private security officers to secure the festival. We are confident that these enhancements will not compromise the integrity of the Strut. Instead, they will improve levels of security and enhance the overall experience for all strut goers.
I encourage you to support the 2012 Bessie Smith Strut by attending it on Monday, June 11 from 5 pm – 8:30 pm. We know that many of us were saddened and disappointed to hear that the Strut was being cancelled three months ago. You have the power to make a difference for future years by choosing to attend on June 11. Gates open at 4 pm so get ready to dance to some great blues and taste some amazing food in a safe and festive environment.
For more information about the Strut and to purchase tickets, visit
www.thebessiesmithstrut.com.
Rose Martin
Executive Director, Bessie Smith Cultural Center