Mystic - It's one of the few times of the year when the crowds in downtown Mystic are mostly locals, not tourists.

From across the region, people flocked to the Taste of Mystic this weekend, weathering less-than-ideal conditions as they sought food and drink from local restaurants and enjoyed the company of friends and neighbors.

"A lot of the tourists are gone for the season, so it's a great community thing," said Alexa Shelton, events director for the Mystic Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event held each year on the Stonington side of Mystic. "You can't walk down the street without someone shouting 'Hey!' "

Rob Bunger, co-owner of Tastings, a wine bar in Mystic, was one of 34 vendors hawking food and promoting their businesses on Sunday, the last day of the three-day event. He wasn't offering wine, but hoped the appetizers his chef was cooking would make people want to visit.

"We're just barely a year old, so I'd say half the people haven't heard of us yet," Bunger said. "So this is really good exposure for us."

Dana Rasdale, who works at Pizzetta, sold pizza slices from the shop's unique firetruck-turned-pizza-shop. The truck, parked near the intersection of Cottrell and East Main streets, was one of the first vendors most people passed.

"We've been really busy," said Rasdale as she handed out slices of pepperoni, cheese, and pesto pizza. "Even Friday night, despite the rain, we were really busy."

Mystic resident Rita Steward said she comes to the Taste "almost every year," and Sunday was munching on a slice of pizza as she contemplated what to sample next.

"I'm thinking I'll get either Thai or Chinese food, something along that line," she said.

Food and drink were purchased with $1 tickets. Ticket booths were manned by volunteers from the Washington Trust Company.

"This is a really volunteer-driven event," said organizer Shelton, who started planning this year's Taste back in February. "There are hundreds of people that make this thing happen."

Near a ticket booth, April Sauchuk and Natalie Vail were each eating a slice of pizza as they planned their next purchase.

"The pizza we can get any time, but it was quick and easy," Sauchuk said. "We're looking forward to a lot of great food."

Added Vail: "I want to try one of those big fruit drinks. They're, like, two feet tall. But I wonder if they're any good."

Organizers awarded several vendors with prizes, giving Thai One On the event's "Best New Participant"; "Best Drink" went to Scorpion Bar, located inside the MGM Grand's Shrine, for its virgin cherry lime rickey; Tastings got "Best Decorated" booth; and declaring for the second year in a row that the "Best Dessert" was from Seamen's Inn. "Best Taste Spirit" went to Daniel Packer Inne, whose employees handed out red balloons to attendees.

m.collette@theday.com