Rain Day 2015: A forecast of fun

WAYNESBURG — Greene County residents once again will flock to downtown Waynesburg today to celebrate the annual tradition of Rain Day. And those who attend this year’s festivities in hope of finding a little rain also will find a full slate of activities throughout the day.
This year’s Rain Day celebration, once again organized by the Waynesburg Special Events Commission, will take place on High Street from 11:30 a.m. until at least 9 p.m.
The annual street festival will feature an umbrella-decorating contest, a country music showdown, a Baby Rain Day contest, a merchant window decorating contest, children’s games and activities, a wide array of live music, crafts and food booths, and free entertainment throughout the day on the Rain Day stages.
The day will begin with the traditional umbrella-decorating contest at 11:30 a.m. There is no pre-registration for the umbrella contest; participants may sign up prior to the contest at the Special Events Commission booth.
There is no entry fee. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. There is no theme for the contest; however, the umbrellas must be functional and should display the “spirit” of Rain Day.
At 12 p.m., Rain Day will present music by the classic rock band Refuge, followed by performances from the Barbara Moschetta Dancers at 1 p.m., musician Carl Donley at 1:30 p.m., comedian Howard Mincone at 2 p.m. Irish Appalachian rock band Staggering Cardoons at 2:30 p.m., country performer Drew Johnson at 3 p.m. and the variety band Song Birds at 3:30 p.m.
The annual Country Showdown Competition will begin at 4 p.m. Contestants will compete locally in the showdown competition on the Rain Day stage for the opportunity to perform in the state Country Showdown to be held later this year.
The festivities will continue with a comedy skit by “Eulah Mae McGillicuty” at 6:15 p.m., and the Miss Rain Day contestants will perform on the lower stage at 6:30 p.m.
At 7 p.m., a special tribute to Company K soldiers will be held, and the winners of the Rain Day window-decorating contest, the best-decorated booth and the Jack McCracken Award will also be announced.
The Baby Rain Day contest will be held once again this year. Each year a new Baby Rain Day king, queen, prince and princess is crowned and honored on the Rain Day stage.
Winners in each category are determined by the number of votes received. The contestants’ entries will be displayed at the Special Events Commission booth on Rain Day until 3 p.m.
All participants should be present at Rain Day at 7 p.m. near the stage. The winners will be announced and crowned on stage. The winner of the best-decorated Baby Rain Day can also will be announced at that time.
Headlining Rain Day is the band Stonestreet, who will be performing on the upper stage in front of the Greene County Courthouse at 7:30 p.m.
The annual Rain Day hat bet also returns this year, as Waynesburg Mayor Duncan Berryman recently announced that this year’s bet is with Robert Rohanna and Rachel Rohanna.
Each year, the mayor bets a celebrity that it will rain on July 29, with the loser having to hand over a hat of their choice. Previous hat bettors have included a number of celebrities such as Donald Trump, Will Ferrell and Chubby Checker, and sports figures such as Troy Polamalu, Troy Aikman and Mario Lemieux. The 2014 hat bettor — and loser — was actress Patricia Heaton.
This year marks the 142nd year of the rain watch. It has rained 114 out of the last 141 years.