The 2020 Rain Day Festival is just days away on, and event organizers once again are prepared to offset hopeful precipitation with a full slate of fun activities.
1939 — Al Abrams, Sportswriter*
For Allison Grace Blair, winning the title of 2020 Miss Rain Day is something that she will never forget.
Seven young ladies from around Greene County will compete in the 43rd annual Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant.
Sophia Moore
Aubree Henderson, crown bearer
Allison Blair, 2020 Miss Rain Day
Allison Grace Blair, 2020 Miss Rain Day
Each year, Baby Rain Day contestants are chosen by the public in the following categories: King, queen, prince and princess.
Emily Bennett
Ashanti Cole
Molly Mylan
Isabelle Tedrow
Miss Rain Day 2020: Allison Blair
“Wayne Drop,” the official mascot of the Rain Day Festival, is preparing for the 2021 vent, which will be held in College and Fountain Parks in Waynesburg Borough. This year’s Rain Day Festival promises a whole day of food, games, music and entertainment. (Photo courtesy of the Special Events Commission)
After a year of uncertainty brought on by COVID-19, many people are getting excited about the 2021 Rain Day Festival.
The popular band of musicians known as Quick Exit will headline the 2021 Rain Day Festival, which will take place Thursday, July 29 at College and Monument Parks in Waynesburg.
An award-winning music artist has officially made the Rain Day Hat for this year’s event.
Row 1: Aubree Henderson, 2021 Miss Rain Day Pageant crown bearer. Row 2: Allison Grace Blair, 2020 Miss Rain Day. Row 3: Sophia Moore and Allie Higgins, 2021 Miss Rain Day contestants. Row 4: Emily Bennett and Isabelle Tedrow, 2021 Miss Rain Day contestants. Row 5: Molly Mylan, Jersey Smith and Ashanti Cole, 2021 Miss Rain Day contestants.
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The 2020 Rain Day Festival is just days away on, and event organizers once again are prepared to offset hopeful precipitation with a full slate of fun activities.
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COVID-19 may have ended up limiting the number of Katie Swauger’s experiences as Miss Rain Day, but she said there is no limit to how many wonderful memories she made since winning the crown in 2019.
Miss Rain Day 2019: Katie Swauger
(Follow on Facebook and like the page to view the Virtual Rain Day Event)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Even though this year’s Rain Day Festival is going to be virtual on the festival’s Facebook page due to safety concerns caused by COVID-19, the Messenger was asked to publish some history about the traditional annual street festival.
1939 — Al Abrams, Sportswriter*
Each year, a new Baby Rain Day King, Queen, Prince and Princess are crowned. Contestants must be a resident of Greene County.
COVID-19 may have greatly impacted the original plans for the 2020 Rain Day Festival, but six young ladies from around Greene County will not let the pandemic dampen their spirits and enthusiasm as they compete for the coveted crown of Miss Rain Day.
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Whether it rains or not, Waynesburg will be drenched with things to see, do and hear on July 29.
Main Stage/Lower Stage – in front of Greene County Courthouse
Waynesburg Mayor Brian Tanner said he is very proud to have made this year’s Rain Day Hat Bet with the award-winning KDKA sportscaster Bob Pompeani.
By Samantha Karam
Three young ladies from around Greene County will compete in the 41st annual Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant. Sponsored by Rain Day Scholarship Inc., the competition will begin at 4 p.m. in the Waynesburg Central High School auditorium Sunday, July 28.
1939- Al Abrams, Sportswriter*
Each year, Baby Rain Day contestants are chosen by the public in the following categories: king, queen, prince and princess. Kings and Queens are from ages 19 months and one day to 5 years old. Prince and Princesses are from one day old to 19 months. Winners in each category are determined by the number of votes received from the public. The contestants’ entries will be displayed at the Special Events Commission booth on Rain Day until 3 p.m.
No matter what time of day you attend the Rain Day Festival, you’ll hear an earful of live entertainment pouring from one of the event’s three stages.
One hundred and one years ago, between July 28 and 29, 18 soldiers lost their lives during the battle of Grimpettes Woods, which took place outside of Courmont, France during World War I. All of them were from Greene County. Due to Rain Day, July 29, is a day of celebration in Waynesburg but it is also a day of remembrance.
The Baby Rain Day contest, sponsored by the Special Events Commission of Waynesburg Borough, will happen once again this year.
WAYNESBURG — Greene County residents will once again flock to downtown Waynesburg on July 29 to celebrate the annual tradition of Rain Day. And those who attend this year’s festivities in hopes of finding a little rain will also find a full slate of activities throughout the day.
When Eden Rogers, 17, of Sycamore, entered last year’s Miss Rain Day Pageant, she said she didn’t expect to win.
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WAYNESBURG – The Central Greene School District continues to be a pathway to the Miss Rain Day title as Loren Schroyer, who will be an eighth-grade student this fall at Margaret Bell Miller Middle School, claimed the title Sunday at the annual pageant, held at Waynesburg Central High School’s auditorium.
WAYNESBURG – From the first hat bet in 1939 with Pittsburgh sportswriter Al Abrams to last year’s bet with with Bob Huggins, men’s head basketball coach at West Virginia University, many athletes, politicians, musicians, actors and local or regional “celebrities” have been lured into betting a hat that it would not rain on July 29 in Waynesburg.
Miss Rain Day 2017 - Eden Rogers
When Waynesburg mayor, Brian Tanner, heard Ferris Bueller’s Revenge play during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ ’80s Theme Night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, he liked what he heard so much he suggested to Athena Bowman, Rain Day special events coordinator, that she book the band for Waynesburg’s annual July 29 celebration.
Editor’s note: This history of Waynesburg’s Rain Day was compiled from several sources, including the writings of John Owen and John O’Hara.
7-10 a.m Buckwheat Pancake Breakfast - St. Ann Church
1939- Al Abrams, Sportswritern
WAYNESBURG – For the third year in a row, a Waynesburg Central High School student was crowned Miss Rain Day when Eden Rogers claimed the title Sunday at the annual Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant held in the Waynesburg Central High School auditorium.
Congratulations to Eden Rogers, Miss Rain Day 2017!
WAYNESBURG — Several hats are being wagered this year as a group of young softball champions and a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle are betting it will not rain on Waynesburg’s annual Rain Day celebration.
It’s been several decades since disco was the craze of night club dance floors. But here we are in 2016, and that unmistakable 70s and 80s disco, funk and dance music will be resurrected at Waynesburg’s Rain Day celebration when “Dancing Queen” takes to the upper stage at 7:30 p.m.
1939: Al Abrams, Sportswriter
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