McNEIL — The Vision Committee behind McNeil’s Festival on the Rails has its collective fingers crossed for this year’s event - not for a high turnout, but for a rainless weather forecast.

The third annual festival, set for April 10, has been all but ruined by rain during its first two runs, said Nancy Cook, city clerk.

“We’re just hoping this year, there’s no rain,” said Cook. “The first year, we were able to have the band and fireworks, but last year, we had to cancel them. The rain just hovered over us last year.”

In spite of the rain, however, the festiva...