Most Harvard students don't look forward to rainy, cold Sundays in October. This Sunday was different. The twentieth annual Oktoberfest descended on Harvard Square, bringing with it arts and crafts vendors, street musicians, food, beer and rides.

"It's cool. It's Sunday, and there's actually something to do," said Eddie A. Bruce '02. "It kind of surprised me. I didn't know it was happening. I just walked out of the yard and saw a big inflatable thing in the middle of the street."

Harvard and Brattle Squares were both closed off for Oktoberfest, which ran from 12 to 6 p.m.

The festival, of German origin, offered events and entertainment for all ages. Teenagers and adults flocked to the arts and crafts stands, while children enjoyed the Moonwalk, the Alligator Slide and puppet shows.

Food ranged from oxtails, curried goat, and pumpkin butternut squash soup to the more traditional bratwurst and strudel. Pizza and sausage vendors were also on hand to appease more American tastes.

The choice of music was equally broad. The Jolly Kopperschmidts, a German band, played polka in front of Holyoke Center, while a string of rock bands, including Jude, Block, Jim's Big Ego and Bellevue Cadillac, drew a crowd to Brattle Square.

The fair attracted a diverse crowd of students, local residents, and tourists.

"It's very exciting. I love the music," said Cambridge resident Virginia M. Hyvarinen. "I come rain or shine. First I listen to the music, then I find the food."

But the foul weather did prompt many to stay at home. Event coordinators anticipated crowds of 60,000, but only 33,000 to 35,000 people actually attended.

Cynthia A. Miller, associate executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, co-produced the event and said she was pleased with the overall attendance.

"We were very happy with the turnout. Of course the rain kept away some people. A lot of parents didn't want to bring young kids out, and rightly so," she said.

Those children who did attend headed straight for the rides. Six-year-old Miles P. Ochs was visiting from Cape Cod with his family when they stumbled onto the fair. He was quick to cite "Jumping down the big slide" as his favorite activity.

The rain also dampened the spirits of many vendors, who made fewer sales than in past years. Sunday was the ninth Oktoberfest for Pantiva Batson, of Pan Thai clothing, who noticed a definite change.

"There aren't as many people as in past years. It gets a little boring," she said.

Some vendors chose not to participate at all because of the weather.