The distinct aroma of smoke wafted over the northern United Center parking lots midafternoon Thursday on the opening day of the Windy City Smokeout. Unlike the noxious-smelling wildfire smoke that choked the Chicago area a few weeks ago, this kind was sweet, sugary, tangy, meaty — the mouthwatering scents of slow-cooked barbecue made by more than two dozen national and local pitmasters.

Not a bad way to kick off a sold-out, four-day outdoor event celebrating its 10th anniversary and, with a daily capacity of 20,000, welcoming 5,000 more people a day than it did in 2022. The country-styled Windy City Smokeout might be the area’s only music festival in which the importance of the food rivals the artist lineup, which this year features headliners Zach Bryan, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan and Zac Brown Band.

On a picture-perfect Thursday, musicians on the undercard faced stiff competition — particularly from St. Louis and Texas barbecue joints, which drew lines that extended past their competitors’ booths. Organizers wisely separated the provisions area on the west end from the main (and only) stage on the east, creating a welcoming sense of roominess. Windy City Smokeout also treated its food as an experience in and of itself

Adorned in a colorful mix of boots, jeans, T-shirts, dresses, tube tops, hats and all manner of stars-and-stripes apparel, fans strolled the west lot’s north and south edges to get an overview of their edible options. Some settled into hard-to-come-by seats in the “lawn” area complete with astroturf, a sound system and big screen that showed the onstage action. Others bellied up to the bar in a sprawling Chicago Blackhawks lounge outfitted with TV screens, chandeliers, championship banners and air hockey-style curling.

Both options made sense for anyone who wanted to relax and experience the performances without dealing with the growing crush on the east end. Megan Hallaren, a 35-year-old Chicago native who now lives in Cincinnati, was one of those individuals. She and her companion felt “too old, geriatric old” amid the crowded stage area and expressed doubt they’d make it through all four days.

Their comments underscored characteristics about Smokeout that function as both a positive and negative: It tries to offer something for everyone, including families with kids, but appears to favor those who fully embrace the “it’s five o’clock somewhere” mantra at all hours.

Combining elements of a frat party, the Wrigley Field bleachers, a preshow parking lot at a Jimmy Buffett concert, upscale dive bar and rural Texas Hill Country smokehouse, the atmosphere featured everything from $60 fishbowl margaritas and $22 beer bats to booze sold out of campers and served in lounges rimmed by white fences. A cannabis zone, cornhole games, “jorts” charity station and several merchants added to the ambiance.

Smokeout clustered craft beer vendors along a single stretch and earned the distinction of being possibly the only major festival where nobody had to wait in line for a quality draft. Ditto the centrally located water-refilling stations, giant barrels whose wraparound taps helped decrease potential logjams.

In a sign of the times, and reflection on the inseparable relationship between social media and branding, more people congregated around numerous photo-op displays. They ranged from shelves holding silver cowboy boots stuffed with flowers to a textured sign comprised of aluminum cans that commemorated the event’s 10-year anniversary.

The look and feel of the metal cans attracted Missy Holas’ three children — ages three, three and one — all wearing cowboy boots and riding in comfort in a wagon stroller. The joyful Michigan resident has attended Smokeout for years, even while pregnant, and loves that her kids (anyone age 10 and younger) get in free. They planned on coming all four days and insisted “it’s not going to rain” this year.

Family bonding also drew the mother-and-daughter tandem of Danielle and Gianna Companio, who arrived decked out in cowboy duds with American flag motifs. The locals said Smokeout is part of a birthday-themed series of concerts they’re seeing together and enjoy “the fun and festivities” but lamented a lack of charging stations. (The United Center was open for restrooms and as a cooling center; it likely offered available outlets.)

Save for no visible recycling options, Smokeout did an admirable job with most fundamentals. Cleaning crews kept the grounds relatively free of litter and kept waste cans empty; restroom lines stayed short; sonics, though not overly crisp and short on dynamics, could be heard far from the stage and in the food area. Organizers even had the foresight to show the performances on two screens attached to the north side of the United Center, a fortuitous decision given more than 100 fans watched Zach Bryan sitting on the Madison Street curb. They enjoyed a better perspective than most people in the actual stage area.

Smokeout fell short in the place where the music happened — on the east end. The sides were devoted to VIP areas and cabanas. Combined with soundstage equipment, another tall, long cabana plopped itself like an uninvited guest dead-center in the lot. It stole the views of anyone behind it and cut off the angles of many who flanked it. Scoring unimpeded views of the stage proved difficult at best; many attendees watched the performances on a screen. And, due to demand for Bryan, finding anywhere to sit — even on the blacktop pavement — presented a formidable challenge.

These issues related less to the quantity of people and more to the limited real estate in which they congregated. Two sponsor lounges and a pair of beverage tents caused serious bottlenecks that could’ve been avoided if the vendors were located elsewhere — or if entrance/exit access wasn’t limited. The arrangements seemed shortsighted in lieu of crowd flow concerns at other events.

Making extra room for viewers would do right by the artists, too. Outshining everyone who preceded him, Bryan demonstrated he earned his promotion from 2022 support act to 2023 headliner. Wearing a Grateful Dead-themed tank top, he blended acoustic-based folk, dust-caked country, spirited bluegrass and rustic harmonies with no-frills narratives. The Navy veteran and his backing band traded in diverse Americana and soulful storytelling — and kept truth in songs.

Continues 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 15-16 at United Center Parking Lot C, entrance and box office are located at the intersection of Madison and Wood Streets; windycitysmokeout.com

Bob Gendron is a freelance critic.