It began with a fizzle rather than a bang.

Organizers had touted the event as a spectacular start to the 350th celebration, but many observers said that last night's Floating Birthday Party just didn't live up to its advance billing.

Although the intermittent drizzle which fell throughout the evening did not deter the expected crowd of 50,000 people from attending, the scheduled events did not hold the crowd's attention and many people departed before the event's 10:30 conclusion.

Police said about 50,000 people showed up for the party.

"So far I haven't been too impressed [by the 350th celebration,]" said G. Perry Wu '89, a student representative at the 350th. "It seems more like a Yale performance than a Harvard performance."

The three-hour program of music and technological curiosities, which included a laser show, a 600-foot inflatable rainbow, floating platforms full of musicians and a life-size John Harvard marionette, took place as scheduled, but many observers said the marvelsfailed to impress.

Gusty winds prevented organizers from puttingup all of the helium-inflated silver rainbow, andBen Waldman '89 said of the remaining pieces,"They look just like the golden arches. I wonderhow much McDonald's paid them to put them up."

The Aqua Mirage laser show, designed by MITFellow Paul Earls, drew criticism from anotherobserver who said, "If this is what a laser showis, what's the hope for Star Wars?"

The hour-long show, which was produced byshining a four-watt laser at a curtain of water infront of the Weeks Bridge, featured images ofdolphins and other sea creatures. But thereflections of the images on the bridge and themist in the air rendered the designs nearlyunrecognizable.

Earl said that although the design for the showwon an international water sculpture contest, thiswas the first time it had ever been produced.

"This is one of the most inept laser shows I'veever seen. Maybe practicing once would have been agood idea. If there's any way to stop the paycheck to the people doing these lasers, theyshould do it," said Doug Duda, a film producer whograduated from the Harvard Business School lastyear.

However Sara Germain, who helped organize theevents, said: "The only problem with the laser wasin people's minds."

Some of the marvels did draw praise from thecrowd. People gathered in front of a red "lightstick." According to its creator, Brooklineresident Bill Bell, the poleshaped device emitslight in vertical lines which read "One CrimsonMoment" when people quickly glance at it. Hundredsgathered near the device, turning their heads fromside to side in an attempt to read the words.

Watertown resident Chris Heller praised "theoracle," an electronic sculpture featuringcolumns, a strobe light and a LED digital display."It's a little bizarre, but I like it," she said.

The floating birthday party came off onschedule, much to the joy of event coordinatorClara Wainwright. Twenty-five different groups andindividuals, ranging from the Cambridge HarmonicOrchestra to Harvard's Kuumba Singers,participated in what Wainwright called "a presentfrom Harvard to the Cambridge community."

And the University even gave out party favors.Harvard staff members handed out 5000 paper hatsand sunglasses emblazoned with the 350th logo.

Between 50 and 75 Metropolitan DistrictCommission Police officers were on hand for thefestivities, but Captain Anthony LoConte said theMDC had expected a calm evening. "It's an older,family-type crowd."

The only disturbance occured mid-way throughthe evening when about 200 students, alumni, andCambridge residents chanting divestment slogansmarched down Memorial Drive. The protestersquickly dispersed. (See story, pave 5).

Peter C. Krause, David M. Lazarus, BenjaminR. Miller, Matthew A. Saal contributed to thereporting of this article.