A midday rainstorm drenched an outdoor concert at Cassidy Park Saturday, but Bogalusa Summer Jam organizers said the second annual event featuring more than a dozen gospel, hip-hop and R&B artists was still a success.

“I think it was a success because people came back after the storm,” said Thomas Kates of T&G Production.

Still the weather put a damper on the festivities and attendance was far less than the estimated 3,000 people who attended the first annual Bogalusa Summer Jam last year.

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No official attendance count was taken, but estimates ranged from 500 to 1,500.

Kates said he estimated about 100 or 200 people attended Saturday’s event before the 2 p.m. rainstorm, but later in the afternoon, once the weather cleared, 400 to 500 people showed up.

The ominous weather likely kept most of the out-of-towners away, said Kates, a record producer and organizer who also worked as a soundman during the concert.

Kates’ wife, Gloria “Lori” Kates, performed during the gospel portion of the concert.

“We had a lot of young people really enthused about their performances,” she said. “Everyone that participated in the program was a highlight.”

Before the rainstorm, Bogalusa City Councilman Michael O’Ree read a proclamation recognizing Aug. 1 as Bogalusa Summer Jam Day, while attendees listened to gospel and dined on sno-cones in the humid conditions.

When a heavy downpour drenched the park in the early afternoon, many of the attendees left, including the sno-cone trailer, Kates said.

But Kates was glad to see more attendees show up after the storm, and his wife and Sister Lo of Baton Rouge were able to wrap up the gospel portion just in time to see the sun come out.

Rapper and event founder Tracus “D-Star” Sartin headed up the hip-hop portion of the concert beginning at 4 p.m. with  a variety of artists including Jolly, Mista Que, Krazy-D and others. The concert ended about 8 p.m.

“Everyone enjoyed the performances,” Sartin said. “I came out feeling really good about it.”

With so many people coming and going, it’s hard to keep track, but Sartin said there were well more than a 1,000 that attended.

“We had about 1,500 people out there at least.”

Weather also put a damper on the car show that coincides with the concert. Last year’s event drew about 40 cars, but this year it was just three: a 2001 Lincoln Towncar, a 1970 Chevy Impala and a 1957 Chevy pickup. Other cars arrived before the rainstorm, but left before the judging began.

Mitchell Johnson’s Lincoln was Best of Show, Best Theme Car, Best New School and Best Sound. The Imapala, driven by Quincy “Mista Que” Jackson, won Best Interior and Best Paint. The pickup, owned by Glenn Seal, won Best Old School.

Sponsoring the event was T&G Production, First Financial, Genco Amusement, Kelvin May Attorney at Law and Cook-Richmond Funeral Home.