While Southwestern Michigan College’s Steve’s Run won’t be taking place during this year’s festival, Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce’s Summer in the City Festival will still play host to spectacular race — only this time, the entire city will serve as the course.

The Dowagiac Amazing Race steps off for the very first time Saturday, beginning at Justus Gage Elementary School at 11 a.m.

Similar to the mega popular reality TV show of the same name, teams of four will rush to be the first complete a series of challenges, located a various businesses and locations throughout the Dowagiac area.

From the starting line at the elementary, the teams will be tasked with deciphering clues that will lead them to the location of the first of 12 challenges they must complete. These tasks will test their minds, bodies and teamwork abilities.

“It’s a good mix of physical and mental, but not too stressful on either side,” said Joe Silvia, the manager of the Dowagiac Chemical Bank Branch and chair of the event. “It’s meant for the participants to have fun.”

After finishing the first challenge, the team will receive another clue for the location of the next leg of their journey. After completing all the required activities, the members will rush toward the finish line of the race, located at the festival’s beer garden on Beeson Street.

The winning team will receive a “traveling” trophy, which they will be allowed to keep until next year’s event.

“Then they will have the target on their backs for next year, where everyone will want to beat them and win the trophy,” said Kim MacGregor, the chamber president and another organizer for the race.

MacGregor presented the idea for the race to the rest of the chamber, after having helped organize a similar event in Sturgis. Being the first year of the event, the chamber decided to limit the competition to just 12 teams and 12 locations, MacGregor said.

“We’re starting on a smaller scale, and hoping to grow in the future,” she said.

So far, 11 of the 12 available team spots have been filled, with teams hailing from Southwestern Michigan College, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, Chemical Bank, Dowagiac Rotary, ICM Products, Lyons Industries, Accounting Consultants, and the Sult family.

While the chance to have the first names engraved on the trophy will be motivation for many teams in the race, the event will give every participant the chance to learn more about their community and the many businesses and attractions that comprise it.

“The competitive nature is great, but it’s ultimately about having fun,” Silvia said. “That’s what the Summer in the City Festival is all about, having fun.”

People interested in entering the race can pick up a registration form inside the chamber offices at the Dowagiac train depot, or at Chemical Bank or Edward Jones downtown.