Betting on rain
The skies were overcast, but as of late Monday afternoon, no rain had fallen in downtown Waynesburg, the site of the annual Rain Day Festival, held every year on July 29. A meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh said there was still a chance of rain in the evening, which would be welcome, as it has rained on 118 of the past 150 Rain Days, or roughly 80%, including last year. This yearĢƵ festival featured live entertainment throughout the day on two stages, arts and crafts booths, childrenĢƵ games, and contests – among them, umbrella decorating, store window decorating, and Baby Rain Day. “Wayne Drop,” the Rain Day mascot, spent the day high-fiving festival-goers and posing for pictures. The event also included the annual hat bet, which has grown from a simple wager into a much-anticipated part of the festivities, and has involved celebrities including Muhammed Ali, Mister Rogers, and Will Farrell. This year, Ryan Shazier took part in the bet. Bryn Lahew of Waynesburg Central High School was crowned 2024 Miss Rain Day. The night concluded with a drone show presented by Star Flight Drone Shows and sponsored by EQT.






