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FESTIVAL FIRST NIGHT
SYDNEY CBD
JANUARY 5 2008
3pm-11pm FREE

Nobody throws a party like Sydney...

Festival First Night is a dream that has been brewing at Sydney Festival for the past two years and in 2008, it will finally arrive.

Festival First Night on Saturday January 5 is an opening night party to which absolutely everyone is invited ... a mass celebration kicking off three weeks of music, dance and theatre ... an epic party on a grand scale ... a chance to join together in the spirit of joy, optimism and fun.

Festival First Night is the night to put your dancing shoes on and enjoy the best that Sydney Festival has to offer - for FREE.

Sydney Festival has gathered over 200 artists for an unforgettable night in the city. Over six stages Festival First Night celebrates music from around the world that will get people up and dancing. Samba, salsa, step, disco, swing or body-pop your way from Martin Place to Macquarie Street and then finish your night at The Domain with the original sounds of the summer as Brian Wilson and his big band pump out Good Vibrations, God Only Knows, Surfin' USA and Fun Fun Fun into the night sky.

A whole range of musicians and bands from around the world will perform free- all of which will get you up on your feet for a night of dancing under the stars like never before. Joining us from New York will be Puerto Rican salsa kings, Spanish Harlem Orchestra; from Portland, Oregon, the smooth romance of Pink Martini; from Canada the irresistible retro-funk of Chromeo; from Scotland, the toe-tapping Ceili music of Shooglenifty; and from Australia the unmistakable ballads of Paul Kelly. And this is only the tip of the very large iceberg that is Festival First Night.

Festival First Night also includes Kids First, a series of afternoon events especially for kids. In Hyde Park, kids can make paper cranes and make a wish for the year ahead; in Martin Place they can learn about urban arts with hip-hop artist, Morganics; and French street theatre wizards Airvag will fill Hyde Park and Martin Place with their playful installations.

Three very lucky couples have also agreed to get up and get hitched in front of a crowd of thousands on Macquarie Street for Festival First Night Weddings.

We'll see you there!

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