Mayor Joe speaks Italian then gives his traditional opening declaration:

And now maestro
Let the music begin,
The dancers dance,
The choirs sing,
The children play,
And the banners fly,
I hereby declare that the thirty-third Spoleto festival USA has begun

BOOM goes the confetti cannon, and Whoo-Hoo goes the crowd!
The snappy snare drum kicks in, the brass blows, and away we go, Spoleto USA 2009 is underway.

2 minutes 20 seconds