Mr Linn said it was designed to appeal to an increasing number of working families after he realised the modern community had changed and couldn't necessarily get to the show during the weekdays.
"The show is typically a weekday event, apart from Friday being a public holiday. On that day we face the challenge that it's often a day people take to stretch into Labour Weekend and head off out of the Bay for a four- or five-day break.
"The Show Spectacular gives us an opportunity to have a hospitality and entertainment offering that the working family, both rural and urban, can attend while still enjoying their long weekend."
Mr Linn said he expected the Hawke's Bay public to fill the showgrounds grandstand, which holds almost 3000 people, and ringside corporate and hospitality venues.
Instead MC Adam Green from The Hits pumped up a crowd of around 100 people sitting in the grandstand for the evening acts.
About 150 guests packed the Farmlands Corporate Lounge for the Show Launch Cocktail Party, with the likes of Napier mayor Bill Dalton and Hastings acting mayor Sandra Hazelhurst in attendance.
Mr Linn said the show took some inspiration from Horse of the Year's Friday Night Extravaganza that reflected the public's desire to be entertained at the region's calendar events.
"It's a nice mix of rural kiwiana, a few comedic takes on rural New Zealand and then a great hour of entertainment from The Beat Girls and the Flaming Maniacs adding a little bit of drama with their fire dancers."
'More than anything else it's a response to the changing community we live in and the show needs to change and deliver on the community's expectations about when they want to go out, what they want to do and how they want to be entertained."
Those still milling among the show exhibitions enjoyed hot food stalls and Mahons Moonlight Madness, which continued till 10pm.
