DOWAGIAC — This weekend’s gloomy weather could not deter Dowagiac’s most dedicated foodies from experiencing a taste of the city.

Dowagiac hosted its sixth annual Taste of Dowagiac event Saturday as part of the city’s Summer in the City festival. The event allowed ticket buyers to sample foods from eight popular restaurants downtown including: Baker’s Rhapsody, Round Oak Revisited, Beeson Street Bar and Grill, Caruso’s Candy Kitchen, The Wounded Minnow Saloon, Woodfire Italian Trattoria, Deb’s Café and the Eagles.

Due to heavy rains, the Taste of Dowagiac experienced lower than usual participation. In past years, restaurants reported seeing between 100 and 200 guests during the tasting event, but this year visitor numbers dropped to between 20 and 80 people.

“Given the poor weather day, I still think we had a decent crowd. People definitely still came out to enjoy the Taste of Dowagiac,” said Christopher Spencer, manager at Woodfire. “But the rain definitely played a role.”

Despite the lower than usual numbers, participating restaurant owners said they appreciate the Taste of Dowagiac and said that it benefits their businesses.

Julie Johnson, owner of Caruso’s Candy Kitchen, said the event brings in people from out of town into her business, which helps her draw in new customers.

“This just lets people know we are here and lets us give them something to try, so they come back again,” she said.

Beeson Street Grill employees said the Taste of Dowagiac gives them the same type of exposure.

“This year, we have had people come in [during Taste of Dowagiac] saying that they have never been here before,” said Tina Munson, a bartender at Beeson Street Bar and Grill. “They come in, taste our food and leave saying we have the best burger in town. … That is really good for us, and we would love to see them come back.”

For Cindy Cohen, owner of Round Oak Revisited, this year’s Taste of Dowagiac allowed her to show off the newly opened Philo’s Pub in the basement of the restaurant.

“We just opened and we are so excited about it, so I’m glad that we get to show [Philo’s Pub] to the people who are stopping in,” Cohen said. “They get to experience that entirety that is Round Oak Revisited.”

Nearly every restaurant owner that participated in this year’s Taste of Dowagiac said they would participate in next year’s event, even if weather causes another downturn in participation.

Several of the business owners said the Taste of Dowagiac is as important for Dowagiac as it is for their individual businesses, as it allows people to experience the totality of the city’s culinary scene.

“This is a great way to show off what Dowagiac has to offer,” Spencer said. “It really is something great.”