MD Burbs Elite Event: Cavalia’s Odysseo

This is a follow-​up to a previous, negative rating I gave to Cavalia’s customer service team. Although my initial experience was incredibly unpleasant and took away from the excitement I had built up internally prior to seeing the show, the box office manager, Chantal, corrected the team’s wrongdoing by upgrading my seats and allowing me access to the «meet the horses» after the show. I greatly appreciate Chantal’s efforts, as I had previously felt ignored and incredibly disrespected by the customer service team. Chantal reached out to me and helped me regain faith in this show. It was an incredible experience that I would – and have! – recommended to several people in my immediate circles. If you are considering the show in DC, I would encourage you to buy tickets for this week’s show before it’s too late!

In a word, beautiful.
Rende-​vouz experience includes one pretty amazing dinner with open beer/​wine, a dessert buffet at intermission, and a stable walk-​through after the show; and awesome seats of course. I don’t think they would have been worth the $ 250 retail value; but, because of the government shutdown, the director offered a 50% price reduction just as a sign of solidarity (gotta love the progressive Canadians!). But for $ 125, it was an incredible experience at great value.
Beautiful music, theatrics, stunts, horses, staging, and special effects. The 50% discount is no longer available, but it’s definitely a worthwhile show. If cost matters, just get the «nosebleed» seats. There’s a lot of seating, but it’s a very WIDE (not long) seating arrangement. So, you won’t even be that far back!

A breathtaking show — a must-​see for horse lovers. A mix of amazing acrobatics, equestrian awesomeness, creative dance and award-​worthy scenery. We missed the finale (which evidently involved 80, 000 gallons of water) because the kiddos needed to get to bed, but what I did see was absolutely beautiful and unforgettable.

I’ve tried to start this review about twenty times and just can’t come up with enough superlatives to describe the amazingness of this Elite event. I mean: free parking, horses, open bar, horses, swanky lunch buffet, horses, gorgeous program books, horses, dessert buffet at intermission, horses, acrobats, horses, stable tour with horses… did I mention horses?! The value of two tickets with VIP access and parking was like $ 300… to get that for the cost of tips to the bartenders is just… wow.
I wasn’t quite the little girl who asked her parents constantly for a pony, but I was a bit horse-​obsessed for a while. Attending Cavalia’s Odysseo totally brought that back, and I raced home afterwards to Google things like «How much does it really cost to own a horse?» and «How to timeshare a horse» and «How to break into the Odysseo stables tent after hours and steal one of those amazing liberty dressage horses who can dance on their own.»
The show itself was spectacular. The two best parts, in my opinion, were the human feats (the Guinea tumbling troupe, the acrobats on the carousel and lyra and silks) and the riderless horse numbers that must take insane amounts of training. Eight people managed to get thirty-​two horses (well, thirty-​one — one was a bit out of sorts) to group by color and then do a series of formations. I know it takes years to get horses to do tricks while you’re sitting on top of them with a crop… do get them to do it without a rider, just through voice and hand signals, is crazy hard. I have so much respect for this.
This month has been really rough, with the shutdown and all of the financial uncertainty it brought my family. I’d seen tons of billboards for Odysseo but didn’t think I could justify going… and then Mike B. and the Cavalia hosts made my dreams come true! We were totally spoiled rotten.

Easily the best Elite event, hands down. Mike B killed it with scoring VIP treatment for Cavalia’s Odysseo.
First off, VIP treatment with the buffet, open bar, and sectioned seating. I didn’t even realize there was a sectioned area for Unilocalers until running into Mike. Definitely nice considering there wasn’t really enough seating for all the people that purchased VIP tickets.
The buffet and open bar was awesome. Definitely enough food for everyone and then some. Shrimp, pastas, cakes, salads, etc. The people serving the alcohol were also nice too. They gave us double pours of everything.
The show was also outstanding. Something like Cirque de Soleil but with horses. The productions were amazing and the music that went with the show was excellent.
After the show, we got a self guided tour of the horse stables too. Pretty neat!
I would’ve easily paid to come see the show after my experience. Thank you Mike for hooking it up!

Four words to describe this event: balls to the wall.
I’m afraid I don’t even know how to be a commoner anymore after attending this Cavalia’s «Odysseo» Elite Event as (Rendezvous) V.I.P. I’m talkin’ complimentary premium parking, pre-​show lunch buffet with open bar, the show itself, and intermission dessert buffet. There was even an after-​show stable tour, but because I had to head to a family function afterwards, I had to miss it. I can honestly say this was one of the top two Elite events I’ve attended to date.
Let me break it down:
The Food: Buffet-​style, both for savory and sweet. The line-​up included, but were not limited to: smoked salmon with capers and onions, cajun shrimp, skewered beef, balsamic asparagus, caprese salad, cous cous, various salads, hummus & pita, chicken alfredo with condiment options (my favorite was sundried tomatoes with pine nuts), sliders, potato salad, fried mac and cheese, and pesto deviled eggs. Open bar offerings included 14 Hands red wine, mimosas, beers, sodas, juice, and water. Snacks included Haagen-​Dazs ice cream (vanilla and caramel) and movie theater popcorn. During intermission, V.I.P. members were treated to a dessert buffet. Offerings included fresh strawberries, fresh whipped cream, mini cheesecakes, fudge cake, various cookies, fruit salad, cannoli, and eclairs. Everything was extremely delicious. The best part was snacks and drinks were allowed in the performance arena.
The Show: Think dressage meets Cirque du Soleil acrobatics. Then add some water and a live orchestra (with angelic singers) to that. I’ve attended a mind-​blowing «Le Reve» show (aquatic acrobatics) in Las Vegas and this «Odysseo» show was just as good, if not better. There were African dancers and 64 horses involved. The costumes, props, and lighting were fantastic. There were various parts in the show that were most memorable to me. For instance, one of my favorites was actually a fluke: a presumably young black stallion refused to be part of his pack in a performance (similarly colored horses moved together in a circle) and circled the other horses, then proceeded to climb a hill and stand in the spotlight. This happened several times, but was as cute as can be. Another favorite part was watching men pole-​dance. I mean, insanely strong men grip onto moving merry-​go-​round poles with just one hand or climb them with only two. Lastly, I can’t write this review without including the actual dressage performance — on water. Very well performed. The best aspect of «Odysseo», however, was the music. I kept repeating to those around me that I want to purchase the soundtrack if it is available.
I live only a hop and skip away from National Harbor and with various attractions coming soon, including Tanger Outlets, I will definitely be back. I highly encourage everyone to catch Cavalia’s «Odysseo» before they pack up and migrate to another city! One of the best live shows (concerts included) I’ve ever watched.
Major props to Mike B. A pleasure meeting you and witnessing your cool-​cat personality first-​hand. I look forward to what you have in store next! Also, big thanks to the show staff — they outdid themselves. Like Sahar R., I would definitely pay to see a similar show here. Worth every dollar!
And remember: Owalu guere moufan! (Those who attended the show would remember this.)

This event was awesome! We truly got treated to the VIP experience. Free tickets, free parking, free food, free drinks, and more. It was an excellent and amazing way to experience Cavalia’s Odysseo.
The best way to describe the show itself is basically Cirque du Soleil on horses. And yes, it was awesome and fabulous. This is definitely a show worth experiencing. And after getting to try out all that the VIP experience entails, I have to say that VIP is totally the way to go.
Huge props to Mike B. for again putting together an awesome Elite experience. He even thought to bring a game we could all play whilst waiting to get inside (Password, and it was awesome).
So yeah, um, YAY!

I was skeptical when I heard that Cavalia was Cirque du Soleil with horses, but this actually is a pretty accurate description. To see the horses galloping so fast, and to see people riding them without saddles or bridles is a beautiful thing. The acrobats are crazy strong, and there were times that I was so in awe I couldn’t clap. The set is amazing too, and includes a 40,000 gallon lake that is pumped in during one of the scenes. I talked to one of the staff members who said it takes more than a week to set everything up. I believe it.
In DC, the shows are 10−50% off (depending on how many tickets you buy) because of the government shutdown, and I would say that if you’re the kind of person who would pay to see Cirque du Soleil, then you should definitely be willing to pay less to see Cavalia. It would be a good date for a new/​budding couple.
The price actually isn’t terrible when you consider how much goes into it — 120 permanent employees (including live musicians and a singer), a week of setup, and 64 horses eating thousands of bales of hay a day.
The show is 2 hours, not including the 30 minute intermission. Parking in the VIP area costs $ 20 but I think it’s less in the general admission section
If you’re a horse lover, there’s the option to purchase VIP tickets with a 90 minute buffet meal before the show, 30 minute dessert buffet, and a tour of the stables after the show. (Though for me, as someone who doesn’t know much about horses, I didn’t get as much out of the stables because we couldn’t touch them.)

I had an amazing time with my fellow Unilocalers (Yay!) for an elite event. Cavalia’s Odysseo and Mike B. hooked us up with VIP passes to the show. Great show for the entire family. I spotted lots of guests young and old, horse fanatics and people who couldn’t tell the difference between a horse and a couch. It was widely entertaining for everyone so this is a great choice for groups, families, etc. because there is something for everyone.
VIP includes buffet, open bar, and dessert buffet during intermission. Food was surprisingly classy and yummy! I filled up on the curry egg rolls and smoke salmon. Other items were: grilled asparagus, mushrooms, couscous salad, tomato/​arugula/​mozz salad, deviled eggs, creamy chicken, hibachi steak rolls, cajun shrimp, melted brie w/​walnuts, pears and honey (ahhhhh!!), corn fritters, mini hot dogs, sliders, and more! I think you get the point though, the food was delicious. Also, the bartenders made fabulous mimosas and lucky for this girl, they do not hold the champagne.
The show was magical – I really enjoyed the horses and the performers. It is amazing how much coordination, training, and direction it took to produce such a high quality show. My favorite part was the adorable dancing horse who had more rhythm than I could ever hope to have. Throughout the show, the scenery changed and the costumes, set, everything was just beautiful! The flow was excellent. I love how all this took place on an intimate stage and was coordinate so well that the audience would not feel that too much was going on. The performers were very interactive, talented, and energetic. (Ok, they were also very attractive.)
Last but not least, a big KUDOS to the staff! They were so friendly and efficient which really made the show run smoothly. They are always happy to direct you in the right direction and crack jokes with you. Overall the show and VIP benefits were done very elegantly. There was no stress getting in and out (twice!). VIP also came with a tour of the stables and meeting the performers, but I couldn’t make b/​c the fuzzy yappy thing at my house would make a big fuss. Overall, I am a very, very happy girl! :) Thank you!

Hmmm it appears I am late to the game on writing a review and everyone has already done a thorough job of expounding on this event. So… I am going to tell you what this event didn’t have.
They didn’t have parking issues. Every parking attendant was smiling and friendly and it kicked off the experience on a great foot. And when we left, they said farewell with huge genuine smiles. What a pleasure in this day and age.
They didn’t run out of food. The options were plentiful and I was able to sample so many items that I almost didn’t have room for dessert! But don’t worry, I made room once I saw the spread! Sweet and savory, fruit and decadent.
The didn’t make you wait in long lines for your complimentary drinks. I managed 3 glasses of delicious Riesling. Which ps is my favorite wine! And my plus one discovered they were passing out large plastic solo cups of wine to take into the show! How sweet is that? They definitely didn’t skimp on the bevs.
They didn’t have a bad seat in the house. Even if you paid for the cheapest seats, you would see the whole stage perfectly. I kept wondering what would happen if the horses decided to run out into the crowd.
They didn’t have lousy programs. The VIP package came with a gorgeous glossy book with pictures and stories about the show. My daughter who loves horses asked me why I didn’t bring her to see them. I’ll tell you why, take a 6 year old who loves horses to see gorgeous horses doing tricks and you can guarantee that she’ll be asking for a horse for every birthday and Christmas for the rest of her life. :p ain’t nobody got time for that.
They didn’t have disgusting bathrooms. The port a potty was the deluxe style. Thankfully because I had to go 3x! And there were no lines to go because they were plentiful. Good planning on their part.
Ok enough of the didn’ts! They DID show us a fabulous VIP time! I felt so lucky to be included in this event. I met a few more awesome elites, I got my free hug from Mike B that will have to redeem later because he was a busy bee running this fantastic event! My plus 1 was floored by what we experienced and said «man I’ve gotta Unilocal more! This is incredible!». It was the best Unilocal Elite event I have been to in 5 years. And there have been some incredible ones so that is saying a lot. Thanks Mike B and Unilocal for allowing me to experience this event and I’ll be looking to redeem that hug soon!

This was so much fun! I expected to like this, but I loved it. The acrobatics and jumping were exciting, and even the slower more somber parts of the show were impressive because of how well trained the horses are. The trick riding was super impressive. The choreography was great, and I never felt bored until some of the dressage-​y parts toward the end. A lot of the music (singing, guitar, violin, bass, drumming) was done live, which was awesome.
The VIP tent had a decent buffet, lots of good food but some of it ran out. The dessert and fruit during intermission was also a nice touch, and the bar served huge cups of mimosas and champagne.
I would definitely do this again. Well worth the price of admission.

My husband and I have seen several of Cavalia’s ‘Odysseo’ billboards while driving on the highway — I was beyond ECSTATIC when I scored free VIP tickets (about $ 229.50 per person). HOLY COW. While waiting outside for the Rendez-​Vous lounge/​tent to open, we played a fun game of ‘Passwords’ (which I totally sucked at!). Unilocal had their own little section with comfy leather couches and little tables after getting plates of food from the buffet. The show itself was AMAZING — I loved the beautiful horses, the acrobatic acts, the costumes (kind of reminded of LOTR elves), the serene music (the violinist and the guitarist were amazing up in the booth), and the backdrop was fantastic. I even started to tear up in the beginning because I was so overwhelmed from so much excitement! The show is a combination of (a milder version) of Cirque du Soleil/​ribbon dancer/​equstrian acts/​ballet performance with horses. My favorite parts were: the little trivia at the beginning, the ladies on top of two horses (it looked like they were dog sledding), the guys who do amazing back-​to-​back flips, the guy going under the horse’s belly and back on top, the line of the horses resting their heads on their neighbor’s back, the ‘runaway stallion’ (even though it wasn’t part of the act), the ‘angelic’ ladies with the long silky ribbons, and the water show at the end with the prancing/​dancing horse. I highly recommend this show for any horse/​animal lover as it’s a unique experience, and there seemed to be a lot families with young children who were enjoying the show as well. The VIP tickets included a buffet and an open bar in the VIP tent (for lunch and for during intermission) — how CRAZY is that?! The food selections included: mini sliders, tomatoes in mini martini glasses, mini dogs, lox, deviled eggs, salad with raspberries, spicy steamed shrimp, melted brie, hibachi skewers, hummus, pita bread, cheese (polenta?) triangles, couscous, popcorn, pasta station, etc. They also had cocktails, wine, beer, champagne, bottled water and soft drinks. During intermission, there was a dessert buffet with cakes, éclairs, petit fours, cookies n’ cream whipped cream with fresh strawberries, cookies, fruit, and cheeses. The staff were unbelievably nice and accommodating, and made sure that all the guests were comfortable. The Unilocalers were even given complimentary parking (normally $ 20), which I thought was insanely cool. We even had a tour of the stables to chit chat with the performers and see the beautiful horses (most of them had their backs turned; I think they were tired!). It was great meeting fellow Unilocalers at this exclusive event. This was a great experience, and I felt lucky to partake in this! THANK YOU, MIKEEEEEEEEEEEE B!!!
+beautiful horse show
+VIP tickets (inclusive of buffet/​dessert!)
+opportunity to see the horses in the stable

Excellent, phenomenal show! Five stars!!! I was truly impressed and the VIP event was well worth it. This show is a first class event with the acrobats, performers and horses. It’s amazing how well trained the horses are and how well balanced the performers are. It was truly a treat to attend this event.
The VIP tent was better than expected. The food quality was terrific, like you are eating a wedding, but only all the food is good instead of some of it and you don’t have to bring a gift.
My only complaints involved things that were out of the show’s control. Such as a mother and her child would not shut up behind me. She even kept asking her daughter a few questions in the rare moments the child was quiet. Then they switched seats but the person behind me was an older version of the child. I tuned it out eventually.
I missed out on the stable tour, but you couldn’t touch the horses and there was a massive crowd waiting for it.
So yes, I would go to something like this again, especially if it’s VIP and Unilocal!has spots.

I feel like I’m obligated to give every future elite event two stars at most, because «meh. i’ve experienced better» would likely be an accurate description when better is referring to this event.
So grateful to have got the hook-​up to this event!
I’ve always wanted to go to a Cirque de Soleil show, but the closest thing I’ve got to it is watching Cirque de Pops at the Kennedy Center. Though I still would like to see a Cirque de Solei show, the acrobat fix I got from Odysseo will allow me to not agonize over not being able to attend the next Cirque de Soleil show that arrives to the area.
My favorite segment was the «dancing» horse. That horse has more rhythm than I do!
The seating area in the tent is rather small, so I don’t think it’s possible to have a bad seat, and I would definitely pay to see this performance again (you know, to see if the horses don’t run off again)!
All the food was great, though naturally I preferred the dessert buffet during intermission over the regular buffet. I want to eat that cookies & cream mousse for breakfast. It’s a suitable substitute for oatmeal, right? (It’s creamy and should be eaten with a spoon…)
To sum things up, if Unilocal only offered one event a year, but it was an event like this, I would be completely happy with the benefits of being an elite member.

Disclaimer: I am a spoiled Unilocal elite. This entire experience was free for me and fellow elites. I have broken up the review in segments of what I would have liked to know or would like to know before I go!
Getting there: Well our GPS in the car and mobile was weird but it is a giant tent, hard to miss and we got there just fine.
Parking: Parking is $ 20! Yikes. Luckily for us, it was complimentary. There were clear signs everywhere to direct you to park and an abundance of staff to assist you in parking the car. In exiting the parking lot, it was quick and efficient. I was pleased.
Open bar and buffet: People always say you get what you pay for and that is correct here. I hate buffets FYI. I don’t care for the chaos and crusted over utensils dipped in over and over, nor the lonely last bit of perfectly good food being neglected. At Cavalia’s Odysseo, this was not the case. The presentation of the food was excellent, the items were all labeled correctly and all the staff were polite and helpful. At the open bar we had a choice of red/​white wine, soda, water, beer, champagne etc. I got through one mimosa (I know, I am a weakling) haha. The food: smoked salmon with lemon and capers, cajun shrimp, honey mustard chicken, mac and cheese squares, brie with pecans and green apple, hummus and pita, tomato salad and other salads and the list goes on. We ate to our hearts content but were cautious to save room for dessert which would be served at intermission.
Unilocal reserved seating: We had our own Unilocal section in the VIP lounge which was awesome! We were in a cozy tent with delicious food and fellow Unilocalers, it was just the right combination on a perfect Sunday evening.
Our seats and the show: So after we ate, we headed in to be seated for the show. We had a great seat and felt like little kids at the circus for the first time. I grew up with horses in Fiji and the majestic beauty and pure strength of these creatures is amazing. I was in awe! and my husband (not much into the artistic things in life) loved it too!
Violinist– I have always wished to play the violin. I watched the guy everytime he had to throw down and he felt it, and he played like he felt it. It was a wonderful production. I was moved by the music.
Horses– Clean, well kept. Trained and treated well and just breath taking and beautiful! There is an option to go backstage and meet the horses and actors, we passed as we had to head home but checkout the other reviews, a bunch of Unilocalers went :)
Desserts and drinks: Intermission came before we knew it. we headed in to checkout the dessert. Hmm ice cream, fruit salad, cheeses, cheesecake, cupcakes, fudge, brownies, cannoli’s, truffles… yeah…and so we ate lots of it. The manager brought us an extra platter of truffles too! We grabbed some popcorn and drinks and headed back in for the show, all the while thinking, O M G… I have to go to the gym tomorrow… OOOOh truffle haha
The second hour was amazing and full of wonder. I had a great time.
Final breakdown: Mike, thank you for the tickets. Cavalia’s Odysseo is a delightful show full of wonder. It is fun for a date night or a family outing. The VIP experience is the way to go if it is within your budget. Cavalia Odysseo is an amazing experience, a keen display of the bond and fruits of labor from training between a man and horse. It will wow and inspire you, leaving wonderful memories in place.

I just love it when Unilocal treats me right & today’s VIP tickets to Cavalia’s Odysseo did not disappoint.
The VIP treatment– Loved it! I mean did I really think I’d be drinking champagne on a Sunday afternoon before, during and after the show? Nooo — but I was!
Free parking — not the $ 20 everyone had to pay– check!
Unilocal section with comfy couches-​check
Free Open Bar — two checks!
Buffets– Check. I’m talking shrimp, pasta stations, appetizers plus during the intermission pastries, fruit, popcorn & mini haagen dazs cups for the show– check check check!
The Show– I won’t like I had no clue what the show was about. Yes I’ve seen the billboards, I checked the website and I kept coming to the same conclusion… a horse show? Lets be clear it is THE horse, mmkay! Loved the beautiful horses, the endless stunts done on the horses, the acrobats and yes those energetic dancers that continually came out flipping all over the place. Loved the whole thing from start to finish!
Unfortunately, I missed the horse stable tour but in my defense — my asthma started kicking my butt in that tent. No worries used the bubbles in the champagne to keep breathing until the end!
Great show. Lovely Afternoon. Thanks Unilocal– you sure know how to treat a gal!

I. Loved. This. Show!
I work in PG County and I passed a billboard for this show for weeks. Then, Mike B., MD Burbs’ congenial Community Manager goes and posts an event for this show.
Yippee! I’m in!
I can’t even find the words to describe how great this event was. This was probably my favorite Elite event of all the six years I have been Unilocaling. It had everything.
Free parking (Yay!) Not the $ 20 (!) that everyone else has to pay.
Free food (Yay!) A buffet unlike the AYCE buffet places you’ll find in the search box on Unilocal.Fresh, tasty food, like spicy shrimp, smoked salmon and capers, baked brie, mascarpone cheese and jam phyllo rolls, salads, fresh fruit, and so much more.
Free booze (Yay!) Beer, wine, champagne, bottled water…
Reserved seating in the VIP lounge (Yay!) I missed this in the beginning b/​c I was so entranced by the buffet offerings. I got it the second time around though.
Free VIP admission which included the above and the below (Yay!)
Free dessert buffet during the 30 minute intermission (Yay!) If I told you everything they offered you’d be SO jealous, so I’ll let you read the other reviews to find out. I will say though, that it involved chocolate. Lots of it.
Free visit with the studly horses in the stables afterwards (Yay!) Most had their butts to us, and weren’t interested. Plus we weren’t allowed to touch them. However, they said NOTHING about not being able to touch the abs of the studly performers…

I’m not a horse-​lover. I go to horse shows for the same reason most people go to NASCAR races: I’m morbidly waiting for a collision (and some trampling).
Housewives of the DMV: the carousel choreography alone will supply your spank bank for a month. If you’re a pro manipulator, your kids will be eating oats/​carrots/​apples for awhile, at the cost of sloppy cartwheels and galloping around the house.
This review brought to you by open bar, a live music ensemble flanking the audience in their soundbooths, and a decent VIP buffet.

Wild Horses Couldn’t Drag me away from this event. Seriously this event was so amazing I did not want to leave.
We received the VIP treatment at this event, and by that I mean we were spoiled by event staff. We had a sectioned off lounge for Unilocalers, a pre show lunch buffet, intermission cookie and dessert buffet, open bar, popcorn for the show and gift bags. On top of that we got to see a jaw dropping acrobatic/​horse show. The two things do not seem to go together but actually do.
First off, the buffet was plentiful, mini burgers, old bay shrimp, salmon, asparagus and nicoise salad. The dessert bar was my favorite, with berries, cookies and crème whip cream with strawberries, cannolis, and mini cheesecakes.
The show was just outstanding. I didn’t know I would be into a horse show, but this show had everything: silk ropes, circular trapeze thingies, pole dancing on a carousel, hauntingly beautiful live music, dressage on a flooded stage, and trick riding.
Afterward, we got a tour of the stables, and took some pictures with some ridiculously good looking actors.
I feel so lucky that I got the opportunity to see this show. I would say that even though I was treated to the show, I WOULD SO PAY to see this. Mike B, you outdid yourself with organizing this event, and you were so fun to hang out with. Literally this was one of the best events I have been to!