REVAMPED: Events manager Anna Hamilton says the Hawke's Bay Show's new night-time event will be something to remember. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND
After 154 years, change was definitely on the cards for the Hawke's Bay A&P Show.
Since it started in 1863, the show itself, and the Hawke's Bay community have obviously been through many transitions, with its audience "changing dramatically" in the past 20 years.
Traditionally the Hawke's Bay show had been held during the day at Hawke's Bay Showgrounds, from Wednesday to Friday, with Friday the busiest day, being Hawke's Bay Anniversary.
However, this format has become problematic in recent years - back in its "heyday" the show attracted up to 50,000 visitors, many of whom were farmers who could take time out to attend the show on a weekday.
While the show remains an integral part of the Hawke's Bay event calendar, people are now often too busy with work, and school to be able to attend on weekdays, and had different expectations of how they wanted to spend their spare time and socialise with friends.
So now the show is adapting to this changed audience, by switching up its format to become a two-day public event and staying open later on Thursday night for a new "Showtime Spectacular".
Competitions will still run over three days; however visitors can expect to see some changes to the daytime show atmosphere with all the usual activities condensed into two days.
General manager Brent Linn said he was looking forward to seeing how the public reacted to the new show.
"It's evolution, isn't it," he said.
"As a major community event [the show] needs to change to reflect the expectations, and the change in our community.
"The show's changed a number of times over the years it's been in existence and those changes have all been a response to what's happening in our community.
"This is today's response for today's community."
Events manager Anna Hamilton said changing the show format was hoped to boost visitor numbers, attract a new audience, and cater to a changed community.
"The show essentially hasn't had a major change ... for probably 20 years," she said.
"We got to the end of last year's show and sat back and said 'right, let's start at the beginning, let's pull it apart, nothing's sacred'.
"We were open to lots of different changes."
Mr Linn said the show needed to become more accessible, and the changes would build on the show's brand of being the place "where town and country come together".
While they were changing the format, it had been important to retain the show's structure.
"Tradition is really important, but still being really relevant and interesting to the community because they are going to so many different events now, they don't want to see the same thing," Ms Hamilton said.
After talking with stakeholders, she said they had worked out what people wanted from the show, and adapted it to suit.
"It's looking at things and thinking people want something to do outside of work, they don't necessarily want to take a day off for the show but they still want to experience the show."
The biggest change would be the new event for Thursday's later opening hours, labelled as an "event within the event".
The showtime spectacular would run until 10pm on the Thursday, with the full show remaining open, including trade stalls and food.
Mahons Amusements would continue operating into the evening, with its sideshow area awash with flashing lights and late-night carnival fun.
There would also be special events and rurally themed entertainment in the main arena including entertainers, live music and A&P theatrics, so show visitors could sit in the grandstand and enjoy the fun.
With the society still in the initial planning stages, the specific entertainment would not be confirmed for several months.
Other new features this year would include a free kids' zone space where toddlers and younger children could play, a new parade ring in front of the grandstand, a big screen and other pockets of entertainment around the grounds, with an increased focus on Hawke's Bay food.
Ms Hamilton said she hoped visitors to this year's show experienced something unique.
"My dream is that Thursday night and the show itself is like something people have never seen before," Ms Hamilton said.
"I want to retain all the really unique parts of the show, the access to animals and that carnival atmosphere and the vibrancy and fun of the show, but making it basically the show on steroids.
"I hope that people come in and think it's so different and so much more fun than in previous years. But also keep that sense of ownership because we don't want it to look too [different] to the traditional show that people are used to seeing and enjoy seeing."
When asked if there had been any criticism of the changes, Mr Linn said as with any change, they would "take the community" through a process so they could understand why the changes needed to occur.
"Once we've gone through that process everyone sees it as a positive development," he said.
"It's not the first time the show's changed over its history and it won't be the last. It's got to be a dynamic thing that reflects the changes in our community."
It was expected the visitor turnout would be similar to previous years, although Ms Hamilton said "if we get to 30,000 that would be awesome".
Different infrastructure would be needed for the night-time event, such as security and lighting.
Recent modifications to the showgrounds - including a new ablution block and fencing - had also helped.
"The end goal is for the showgrounds, overall, rather than just the show but we're definitely benefiting from the improvements," Ms Hamilton said.
"The general look of the showgrounds come October will be quite cool compared to what was there the year before."
The 2017 Hawke's Bay Show and Royal A&P Show will be held from October 19 to 20.