Though the heat may be creeping in the high 90s this weekend and staying inside in the air conditioning might seem tempting, there is simply too much going on this weekend in Dowagiac to give in to the urge.

The Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce’s annual Summer in the City festival kicks off Friday and will continue into Saturday in downtown Dowagiac. The annual festival features several activities including sidewalk sales and community booths, children’s activities such as a zip line and inflatables, a presentation by Paleo Joe, a Dowagiac District Library Book Sale, a community praise jam and more.

Friday evening’s most prominent attraction will be Summer on Tap, which will feature live music and craft beer tasting courtesy of Sister Lakes Brewing Company. The event is sure to be a hit.

Don’t forget to take part in the Taste of Dowagiac, where five local restaurants serve hor’s d ‘oeuvres so that visitors can get a taste of Dowagiac’s thriving food scene. The Taste of Dowagiac takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $8.

Though Dowagiac has no shortage of festivals, Summer in the City is one of my favorites. It’s a wonderful celebration of summer and truly showcases Dowagiac for what it is — a warm and welcoming community that cares about making its small city an attractive and charming place for visitors. It’s also just plain fun.

Though I hail from a much larger city than Dowagiac, I have I never visited a festival in my hometown that could rival Summer in the City. I wish I had a celebration like Summer in the City I could have gone to growing up.

Every bit of effort taken by the chamber shines through during Summer in the City, and when I attend, I’m reminded of something City Manager Kevin Anderson once said to me, “Dowagiac is a small town that plays big.” I certainly think that is evidenced in both the magnitude and quality of Summer in the City.

If you are a Dowagiac resident, show some hometown pride and brave the heat this weekend to enjoy some of the great festivities going on.

Even if you don’t often find yourself in Dowagiac, I would encourage you to get out of the house and check out the festival. I strongly suspect that you will be surprised by how much Dowagiac charms you.