Rain or shine, it无毛视频檚 time for Rain Day
Wednesday无毛视频檚 forecast for Waynesburg predicts a 40% chance of rain showers in the afternoon.
It无毛视频檇 be happening on the one day a year when nobody would mind.
The annual Rain Day celebration returns Wednesday, July 29, with games, food, two stages of live music, contests, awards and more.
This year, the end of the festival will move up two hours to 7 p.m., coinciding with the end of two-hour sets by the musical headliners, Nick Polito and Jimmy Buffett devotees Suns of Beaches.
Instead of the previous fireworks display, the festival will close with a foam party from 6 to 7, which people can enjoy while taking in the tunes in Monument and Fountain parks.
无毛视频淲e are excited to see our festival attendees dive into the towering foam, toss bubbles and dance in the foam,无毛视频� said borough Manager Athena Bowman.
Festivities start at 11 a.m., when participants can twirl their best Rain Day-inspired designs on the Fountain Park stage with the umbrella contest.
Musicians play throughout the day on the main stage on Wayne Street and in Fountain Park, including Lee Alverson无毛视频檚 one-man, one-piano Elton John tribute at 1:30 p.m.
The kids无毛视频� area offers children无毛视频檚 games, inflatables, a balloonist, caricaturist Jeff Harris, strolling magician/juggler Howard Mincome, and characters like Cinderella and Baby Yoda making the rounds.
Even if it doesn无毛视频檛 rain, visitors can encounter the festival无毛视频檚 mascot, Wayne Drop, known as 无毛视频渢he world无毛视频檚 largest rain drop,无毛视频� throughout the day, Bowman said. And if they无毛视频檙e wandering through downtown Waynesburg, they can also spot his likeness in some of the many window displays from local businesses entering the annual Rain Day contest.
The new Miss Rain Day, who was crowned at a pageant Sunday night, will make the first of her many appearances at Greene County and regional events over the next year on Wednesday. She and the crowd will get to witness the crowning of Baby Rain Day and Mini, Little and Jr. Miss Rain Drop.
The Rain Day tradition dates back to the late 1800s, when local farmer Caleb Ely remarked to physician William Allison that it always seemed to rain on his birthday, July 29.
Intrigued, Allison began tracking the rainfall, which more often than not confirmed Ely无毛视频檚 observation.
Local newsman John O无毛视频橦ara turned the quirky local celebration into a national story in the 1930s.
The same decade, the borough launched a Hat Bet tradition with a celebrity 无毛视频� whether Bing Crosby, Muhammad Ali or Jay Leno 无毛视频� on that year无毛视频檚 weather.
This year, it无毛视频檚 Waynesburg University graduate and San Diego Padres star Mason Miller无毛视频檚 turn to bet on a dry day.
If he loses 无毛视频� as the bettors usually do 无毛视频� he无毛视频檒l have to give up his hat. Since Allison began tracking rain on Ely无毛视频檚 birthday, it无毛视频檚 rained 119 out of 152 years.
Some of the hats relinquished by past celebrities are on display in the window of the Waynesburg borough office.
While the Rain Day legend spread far and wide, the actual celebration was limited to a small observance on the steps of the county courthouse. That changed in 1979, when the borough无毛视频檚 Special Events Committee began celebrating Rain Day with an annual festival.
As it无毛视频檚 a free event, there无毛视频檚 no sure way to know how many people turn out for Rain Day events throughout the day, Bowman said. But they have some idea: two years ago, Greene County Tourism used a program that pings cellphone usage within the festival area to estimate about 6,000 people attended.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a day when residents and visitors alike gather to celebrate the town无毛视频檚 unique identity of celebrating rain, from its weather lore to its community spirit,无毛视频� Bowman said.
For a full listing of events, go to raindayfestival.com/event-schedule.