From 2008-2012, the Festival's free opening event was Festival First Night, attracting approximately 200,000 people into the city centre.
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.