Umbrellas, painted metallic raindrop shapes and signs proclaiming "We know it will rain July 29" dominate storefronts in downtown Waynesburg. On Friday, the streets will be overwhelmed by music, dancing, 106 fair booths and, residents hope, rain, as the town marks its annual Rain Day celebration. In the last 130 years, it has rained in the county seat 108 times on July 29, an oddity celebrated by residents and visitors. Waynesburg's tradition began in the late 1800s when a farmer tracking weather patterns for his almanac pointed out to a druggist that it always rains on July 29. The druggist began betting hats with drug salesmen as to whether it would rain, and the record-keeping continued. The day was often celebrated with festivals beginning in the early 1900s. In 1979, Waynesburg's Special Events Committee of nine members was created to oversee Rain Day events. The celebration has been growing since. Local music acts, dancers and a children's choir will provide nonstop entertainment on two levels of stages on the courthouse steps, said Melody Longstreth, executive director of the Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Food and information booths, a 5K race, a hot dog-eating contest and the Miss Rain Day pageant are staple attractions each year. Kathy McClure has lived in Greene County her entire life and remembers Rain Day celebrations as a child. Adults often take the day off from work, she said. "It's always a lot of traditional stuff," said McClure, director of Eva K. Bowlby Library. "A lot of generations enjoy it." A "Baby Rain Day" storefront-decorating and umbrella-decorating contest are also planned. At 7:30 p.m., Beatles tribute band Back Beat will top the day's entertainment. But everyone's really waiting for some rain, even if the forecast doesn't make it seem likely. Of special interest is the hat-betting contest, which still goes on today -- this year's hat bettor is Donald Trump. In the past, Waynesburg has won hats from Jay Leno, Chubby Checker, The Dixie Chicks, Bing Crosby and Mister Rogers. "A lot of ball hats seem to be what we end up getting, but we do have some odd things: the helmet and the old lady hat," Longstreth said. Though Kelly Brown, of Bobtown, has to work on Rain Day, she doesn't doubt it will rain. "Trump's going to lose his hat there," Brown said. John Owens, chairman of the Special Events Commission since it was founded, said planning for next year's event picks up as soon as the other ends. The phenomenon attracts interest from all over the world. On occasion, Owens said he will hear from TV stations and newspapers from as far away as Ethiopia and parts of Europe wondering if it rained. A high ridge that separates Greene and Washington counties at times has been considered the cause of the weird weather, Owens said. "Nobody knows for sure," Owens added. "We're just lucky." Greensboro resident Randall Hegedis said he's glad others enjoy it, but he doesn't participate. "I don't find too much fascinating about waiting to see if it rains," Hegedis said. The past two dates have been dry, making some residents anxious. Partly cloudy skies and a high in the low 80s are predicted by the National Weather Service for Waynesburg's fateful day. The event may be one of the few that isn't ruined by rain. "It doesn't dampen the spirits; even if you have to pack up and go home early, everybody's happy," Longstreth said. Courtney Franks, a Jefferson-Morgan High School senior, was crowned Miss Rain Day 2005 on Sunday and will reign over the ceremony. The competition has been held for 26 years and turns a Greene County girl into a "local celebrity," Longstreth said. "It's not just the festival and she's done." Franks said she is looking forward to making appearances and volunteering during the next year. At the moment, she's busy with bigger concerns. "I'll bring rain," she said, laughing. "It'll be here."

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