Waynesburg readies for Rain Day festivities
WAYNESBURG – On Thursday, people once again will flock to downtown Waynesburg to celebrate the annual traditional of Rain Day. This year marks the 136th year of the rain watch. It has rained 111 out of the last 135 years, including last year.
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 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.
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 a $2 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.
The Dr. Zoot band will perform at noon, followed by the “Dialed Action Sports Team BMX Stunt Show” in front of PNC Bank at 1 p.m. There will be a performance in front of the Greene County Courthouse from the Ginny McClelland Dancers at 1 p.m., followed by performances from Jackson Gardner at 1:30 p.m., the Barbara Moschetta Dancers at 2 p.m., Daniel Downing at 2:30 p.m. and In Motion Dance and Fitness at 3:30 p.m. The “Dialed Action Sports Team BMX Stunt Show” will feature another appearance in front of PNC Bank at 3 p.m.
The 2010 Miss Greene County Pageant participants will be on stage at 3 p.m., and then the annual Colgate 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.
For the fifth consecutive year, the “Husband Calling Contest” will be held during Rain Day. Wives wishing to participate should register throughout the day at the Special Events Commission booth near the main stage. There is no fee to enter.
During the family-oriented contest, wives will have 15 seconds to “call” their husbands. Waynesburg police Chief Tim Hawfield, who came up with the idea to hold the contest, said wives who use profanity and/or suggestive language will not only be disqualified but may even be arrested.
A panel of judges encourages creativity. The winner will receive a monetary award and plaque, and the winner’s name will be placed on a “Golden Rolling Pin.” The contest will begin at 6 p.m.
The Miss Rain Day contestants will perform on the upper stage at 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., awards will be presented to the winners of the traditional 5k races, which were held on Saturday. Also at 7 p.m., a special tribute to Company K soldiers will be held, and the winners of the Rain Day window-decorating contest and the best-decorated booth also will 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.
The number of votes received will determine the winners. All participants should be present at 7 p.m. near the stage. The winners will be announced and crowned on stage.
Headlining Rain Day will be a Styx tribute band known as “Renegade,” which will be rocking the upper stage in front of the courthouse. The band will perform on the Rain Day stage at 7:30 p.m.
Since 1970, the popular rock band Styx has remained a staple on the radio domestically and internationally as one of the greatest groups in rock music and the first and only band to have four consecutive multi-platinum albums.
Renegade focuses on Styx’s trademark high-pitched harmonies, mixed with dual-guitar assault, solid rhythm section as the driving force of talent and influential, flashy keyboards, according to the band’s website.
The annual Rain Day hat bet also returns this year, as Waynesburg Mayor Blair Zimmerman recently announced that this year’s bet is with Annise D. Parker, mayor of Houston, Texas.
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 2009 hat bettor – and loser – was Katie Stam, who was crowned Miss America in 2009.
Those who attend Rain Day will find the setup to be somewhat different from past years. The vendor booths that have traditionally lined up along the sidewalks of High Street in downtown Waynesburg will be set up in the middle of the street.
Zimmerman said the change will make it more convenient for those attending the festivities, as it will open up the sidewalks and allow more room for the existing businesses.
Zimmerman said all streets that are normally open for Rain Day will be open this year, including Washington Street, which had been temporarily closed for the borough’s ongoing streetscape project. Various booths will line that street as well, he said.