WAINWRIGHT W. WINT ’06 makes cotton candy during Springfest yesterday on the MAC Quad. Wint had to enter a lottery to win the coveted job.

Hordes of T-shirt-clad students, faculty and families followed the sun yesterday to the muddy MAC Quad for food, music and fun at Springfest 2003.

Co-hosted for the second year running by University President Lawrence H. Summers and the Undergraduate Council, the annual outdoor carnival drew a record of about 10,000 Harvard affiliates, according to the Harvard University Police Department.

About half of those who attended were undergraduates.

After Saturday’s driving rain, menacing gray skies seemed to threaten the event as late as yesterday morning.

But the clouds parted as more than a dozen white-hatted Harvard University Dining Services cooks fired up rows of grills to accommodate the hungry crowds.

Past the food tent, attendees encountered a formidable collection of carnival rides and games scattered around the Quad, most of which were of the giant, inflatable variety.

An inflatable climbing mountain, an inflatable jousting match and a human foosball game—also inflatable—were among the offerings.

Student bands played throughout Springfest’s four hours to audiences of varying size and interest.

Carnival staples such as balloon animals, ice cream and cotton candy were distributed freely.

“It’s the sweetest thing ever,” said Edward M. Likovich ’06.

Some students said they would have liked a big-name band for the event.

“I think with all the money Harvard has, they could have afforded a big name band. I mean, this only happens once a year,” said John L. Naguit ’06.

But many said they were happy to hear the efforts of their fellow students.

“I like hearing the groups on campus,” said Rebecca J. Alaly ’04.

Absent from the festivities, however, was even a drop of alcohol.