For more than 10 years now, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce has been offering residents a taste of what local businesses have to offer.

Thursday night, they did it again.

And despite hard economic times, the chamber’s annual Taste of Pike County event had another successful year at the Cattlemen’s Association.

“It doesn’t appear the economy has hindered the Taste of Pike County,” said Chamber President Jenniffer Barner.

With more than 50 businesses and close to 1,000 attendants, Barner said the event had even more to offer than other years.

“We have different food vendors that have never been here before, and we actually have several new businesses that haven’t done it before,” Barner said. “This is a low cost way to advertise.”

And, those who attended this year’s event said they enjoyed experiencing a little bit of everything Pike County.

“It’s been a good event. There’s more to it than just something to eat,” said Steve Stokes, who attended the event for the first time this year. “There’s more than just food to the taste of Pike County.”

For others, Thursday’s event was an annual outing.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful way to try a sample of all the restaurants,” said Juanita Curtis, of Troy. “And they have an outstanding crowd this year.”

Leigh Anne Windham, membership director, said the event is one that not only gives businesses an opportunity to showcase to the community, but it also gives them unique networking grounds.

“It gives the chamber members the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the community, and it also just gives them a good network opportunity,” Windham said. Business owners agreed.

“A lot of people in Brundidge know about us, but this gives us a chance to meet people all over Pike County,” said Beth Bell, owner of Price Pharmacy in Brundidge.