Rain didn't fall July 29 in Waynesburg this year, and that wouldn't be news anywhere other than the Greene County borough, where thousands of people turned out for the 134th observance of Rain Day.

Waynesburg officials, merchants and residents have been keeping track of July 29 rainfall since 1874, and reports indicate that precipitation has fallen on 110 of the 134 Rain Days, or 82 percent of the time.

While weather forecasting services had said there was no chance of rain Tuesday, they never give up hope in Waynesburg. After all, a half inch fell in 1999 in the midst of a severe drought, so police officers and the mayor dutifully investigate reports of water falling from the sky that day, no matter how small the amount.

"There were several calls," Mayor Blair Zimmerman said. "A lady said she had drops of water on her windshield, and several people said they had water on their cars. We checked.

"One of the cars was covered with dust because it was parked near a construction zone, and there were clean spots amidst the dust. Maybe it did sprinkle, but it wasn't enough. The official word is it did not rain.

"My batting average has now dropped below .500," Mayor Zimmerman said, somewhat glumly. "This is my fifth Rain Day as mayor and it only rained for two of those years."

Rain-free Rain Days also occurred in 2004 and 2006.

The lack of rain didn't stop an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 people from attending this year's daylong Rain Day Festival. Two blocks of High Street in the main business district were closed to traffic and filled with festivalgoers perusing booths offering food, crafts, displays and games.

A steady stream of singers and dancers performed on the outdoor stage. Despite temperatures in the high 80s, the unshaded viewing stands were filled with spectators who applauded vigorously for each and every act.

Performers included the reigning Miss Rain Day, Elissa McCracken, 16, who will be a senior at Waynesburg Central High School. In the talent competition, she played the piano and sang "Come In From the Rain."

Miss Rain Day's duties include meeting and greeting festivalgoers and attending local events throughout the year. Like Miss America, Miss Rain Day has a "platform," or mission.

"This year I would like to promote my platform, which is Internet safety, keeping children safe," Miss McCracken said. "I already had a breakfast meeting today with Attorney General Tom Corbett, who spoke about this at my school."

For many Waynesburg residents, Rain Day is a family event. Elissa's parents, Jeff and Helen McCracken, attended the festival and cheered for their daughter while also celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary.

Mr. McCracken, a pharmacist, was taking a couple of hours off from his High Street business, McCracken Pharmacy, which was founded in 1961 by his father, Jack McCracken, also a pharmacist. The drugstore won second prize this year in the window decorating contest.

First place went to First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County.

High Street's newest tenant, a shop called "Our Glass," won third place in the contest.

Stained glass artist Beth Day and her sister, Karen Calvert, who works in mosaics, opened their shop just two months ago.

"I'm pleasantly surprised. We can barely keep up with orders and we don't even have an Internet Web site yet," said Ms. Day, a Waynesburg native who retired as a hospice nurse to work full time in the shop.

The "Our Glass" window display featured a watering can, an umbrella and big rainbow-hued rain drops suspended from almost-invisible filaments. All of the pieces were crafted from stained glass. The exhibit will be displayed again for the next Rain Day Festival, Ms. Day said, "though if someone wants to buy it, we'd be delighted to sell it to them."