There was variety - from classical to dance to reggae to rock to old-school Maori quartet favourites to journalist/musician extraordinaire Kelly Makiha rocking Bon Jovi (we may be biased of course!).
Stacey Morrison was a natural, energetic host and her seamless way of slipping between English and te reo Maori felt perfect for a Rotorua crowd.
Image 1 of 23: Lakeside. Racheal McConnell, (left), and Joe Fraser.
A particular standout for me was the visuals created by Piripi Curtis and his team, which added a new dimension to the show.
Sure, it went on longer than expected, meaning by the time the big fireworks finale came some kids were fast asleep or had already been taken home. And that's a shame, because what a display it was.
No doubt the timing issues will be on the agenda when the organisers hold their debrief, but as criticism goes, an extra hour of entertainment ranks pretty low on the list.
I can't imagine what it takes to pull a show of that magnitude together, so hats off to all involved.
The 33 arrests around the periphery of the Village Green cannot be ignored.
While it can't be blamed on the show itself, it must be incredibly frustrating for the organisers and police that a small minority of mainly young people came along to a family event and caused trouble, marring the experience for those who saw or became caught up in it.
How we prevent it happening the next time we host such an event, I don't know. But I do believe the responsibility for these youngsters' behaviour does not rest with event organisers and police, but must begin much closer to home.
