People take in the festivities on High Street after a shower moved through Greene County in the early morning, causing rain to fall for the 112th time out of the last 136 years. Josh Stepp

WAYNESBURG - The sorely wanted precipitation came and went quickly, allowing hundreds in Waynesburg to enjoy pleasant weather for the remainder of the annual Rain Day celebration Thursday.

For the 112th time out of the last 136 years, rain fell on the borough on July 29, continuing a long Greene County tradition.

Mayor Blair Zimmerman said the first drops of rain officially fell on the borough at 7:50 a.m. As the morning progressed, dark clouds gave way to plenty of sunshine and rising temperatures, and by the time the festivities were under way, High Street was getting crowded.

And Zimmerman could not have been more pleased.

"It's shaping up to be a great day," he said. "Now that we got the rain out of the way, I'm hoping we have terrific weather the rest of the way so people can enjoy themselves."

Zimmerman said he also was happy with the schedule of live entertainment that was offered throughout the day.

"I'm really pleased with the (musical) lineup this year," Zimmerman said. "So far, we're having a great turnout and it appears that everyone is already having lots of fun."

The early rainfall also meant that Zimmerman won this year's Rain Day hat bet. This year, he wagered Annise Parker, mayor of Houston, Texas, that it would rain in Waynesburg on July 29.

Zimmerman said he asked Parker to participate in this year's hat bet because of a connection Waynesburg has with Houston.

Borough police Patrolman Brian Tennant recently traveled to Houston for radiation treatment after he was diagnosed in March with grade-three glioma on his brain stem. Zimmerman said he was told that the city "opened their hearts" to Tennant and his family.

"The police officers there befriended him and the city wholly supported him, and I thought it would be appropriate to show our appreciation to the city," he said. "I asked the mayor to be our Rain Day hat bet challenger, and she gladly accepted."

When asked what type of hat he would ask for from Parker after it officially rained, Zimmerman smiled.

"We're hoping to get a cowboy hat from the mayor," he said. "I tried to call her this morning to let her know that she lost, but I haven't heard back from her yet."

This marks the seventh hat bet for Zimmerman as mayor, and he now holds a 4-3 record.

Meanwhile, the large crowd that gathered early for Rain Day was stopping by the many vendor booths that were offering a wide array of food and beverages, arts and crafts, and more. In all, there were 103 booths lined up along the middle of High and Washington streets, according to Athena Bowman, who heads the Waynesburg Special Events Commission, which organizes the festival.

Also in attendance was Kelcee Headlee of Waynesburg, who won the title of Miss Rain Day during a pageant on Sunday. Wearing her tiara and sash, Headlee said winning the pageant was an emotional experience for her.

"I was absolutely shocked when I heard that I had won the title," said Headlee, a 17-year-old daughter of Amy and Derek Broadwater. "It was very humbling and a huge honor, and I was thrilled to have been crowned by Emily Block (the 2009 Miss Rain Day), who is such a close friend."

As she posed for photographs with adoring youngsters, Headlee smiled and said, "Today is going to be a very busy day, and I am going to enjoy every minute of it." She and other pageant contestants performed on stage during the festival.

Other Rain Day performances and activities included a Baby Rain Day contest, umbrella contest, the Dialed Action Sports Team BMX Stunt Show, Ginny McClelland Dancers, Jackson Gardner, the Barbara Moschetta Dancers, Daniel Downing, In Motion Dance and Fitness, Miss Greene County Pageant participants, the Colgate Country Showdown, a husband-calling contest and the headlining musical act, Renegade.