<p>Runnersmom and others readying for outdoor graduations:
Handy tip in case of rain,
If you find them in the store, we bought $1.00 apiece plastic rainjackets, really just saran wrap cut into jackets with sleeves (lacked the hood). They're only the size of a kleenex soft-pack, and weigh little. So you could hand them out (or if it's my kind of family, carry them all for them!). If it rains, you hand them out right on the spot. I preferred that to carrying raincoats (bulky) and umbrellas (effective but block the views of those behind you, sometimes disallowed depending on the school).
This year, the sun shone so I never distributed them.
Two years ago, I didn't find these but brought clear garbage bags (!) and we did use them. Ugly but saved the day, since a moderate rain began in the midst of the ceremony, so the graduation never moved midway through.
Good luck to all!</p>