Rain Day Festival filled with activities, entertainment and fireworks
In this file photo, comedian and magician Howard Mincone entertains 2021 Miss Rain Day Emily Bennett with a magic trick during the Rain Day Festival in Waynesburg. (Photo by Greene County Messenger)
Get out your umbrella and look for rain. July 29 marks the 149th Rain Day in Waynesburg. (Photo by 无毛视频-Standard)
无毛视频淲ayne Drop,无毛视频� the official mascot of the Rain Day Festival, is preparing for the 2022 event, which will be held in Monument Park and College Park/Fountain Park in Waynesburg. (Photo courtesy of the Special Events Commission)
On July 29, Greene County residents will once again flock to downtown Waynesburg to celebrate the annual traditional of Rain Day. And those who attend this year无毛视频檚 festivities in hopes of finding a little rain will also find a full slate of fun all throughout the day. (Photo by 无毛视频-Standard)
July 29 will mark the 149th Rain Day in Waynesburg, and the annual Rain Day Festival returns in full force, with a full slate of activities and entertainment for festival-goers.
And yes, festival organizers are hoping for a bit of precipitation.
无毛视频淲e have so much going on. We do want it to rain, that无毛视频檚 what we无毛视频檙e celebrating 无毛视频� it无毛视频檚 rained 116 out of 148 years 无毛视频� but we want it to rain early in the day or later in the evening,无毛视频� said Athena Bowman, Waynesburg Borough Special Events Coordinator, with a laugh. 无毛视频淟ast year we had a torrential downpour and a tornado warning, so we don无毛视频檛 want that.无毛视频�
The Rain Day Festival features live entertainment throughout the day on two stages, and includes arts and crafts booths, food booths, children无毛视频檚 games, and contests 无毛视频� among them, umbrella decorating, store window, Miss Rain Day, Little Miss Raindrop, Baby Rain Day, and Diaper Derby contests.
Bowman said the musical performances span a variety of genres.聽
Performers at the Main Stage (in front of Monument Park) and the second stage (at Fountain Park/College Park) include 18 Strings, an acoustic trio that plays bluegrass, British classic rock, country, folk, and Americana;聽Smoke and Mirrors, which classic rock and originals, Curtis and the Shakers, which plays blues and boogie music; The Craigs, an acoustic duo that plays an eclectic mix of covers from the 1920无毛视频檚 to present; Trenton Antil, an indie rock musician; and Tyler Jeffries, a Waynesburg Central High School student.
The headliner is the country music band Buckwild.聽
A free Kids Zone at Fountain Park features caricaturist Jeff Harris, JMS Balloon Art, two magic shows performed by Magic on the Run, inflatable games including archery and axe throwing, and strolling characters including Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol, Buzz and Woody from Toy Story, and Poppy Troll and Spiderman.
The festival kicks off at 9:50 a.m., with Jeffries performing the National Anthem at the Main Stage.
Festivities continue with the umbrella contest at 10 a.m., followed by the Diaper Derby contest at 10:45 a.m.
The first musical performance of the day, 18 Strings, starts at 10 a.m. American Judo Hapkido Institute performs at noon, followed by the Magic on the Run Show.聽
Other performances include EQT Rec Center Tumbling and Cheer, and Carmichaels Center for Performing Arts.
At 6 p.m., a moment of silence will be held for Company K, 110th Infantry, 28th Division, a battalion from Waynesburg that lost 17 of 18 men in France during World War I on July 29, 1918.
Award presentations for the window decorating, Baby Rain Day, and other contests will follow the moment of silence.聽
Additionally, the Jack McCracken Award, presented to person who has served as a humanitarian, civic leader and role model, will be awarded.
The festival concludes with a fireworks display at 8:30 p.m.聽
The Rain Day mascot, 无毛视频淲ayne Drop,无毛视频� will roam the festival throughout the day.
And the traditional Hat Day Bet continues, with Rick Sebak, producer at WQED-TV, trying to defy the odds by betting that it won无毛视频檛 rain on Rain Day.
This year, a shuttle service will be provided throughout the day to take festival-goers from their parking spot to Fountain Park.聽
Bowman thanked the sponsors, volunteers and participants who make Rain Day a special event every year.聽
She also expressed gratitude for Greene County Boy Scout Troops 1280 and 9280, the official 无毛视频渞ain watchers无毛视频� who gauge rainfall on July 29. 聽
无毛视频淲ithout our sponsors, the community organizations, companies and groups who help so much, we wouldn无毛视频檛 be able to do what we do for the event,无毛视频� said Bowman.
The festival was held online in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year无毛视频檚 events were marred by heavy rain, so Bowman is excited about continuing the unique tradition.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e excited to continue the tradition in the community,无毛视频� said Bowman. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 been 149 years of tracking the rain, and hopefully we无毛视频檒l hit that 117th mark.无毛视频澛�
Note: The Rain Day Festival list of events and activities is available on the festival website at raindayfestival.com and on its Facebook page at Rain Day Festival.