fɹʌm tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt dˈæʃ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛlv, ðə fˈɛstɪvəlz fɹˈiː ˈoʊpənɪŋ ᵻvˈɛnt wʌz fˈɛstɪvəl fˈɜːst nˈaɪt, ɐtɹˈæktɪŋ ɐpɹˈɑːksɪmətli tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ pˈiːpəl ˌɪntʊ ðə sˈɪɾi sˈɛntɚ.
From 2008-2012, the Festival's free opening event was Festival First Night, attracting approximately 200,000 people into the city centre.