I was lucky enough to get *free* tickets to this show and given that I'd seen it a few years ago in San Jose, I had no idea that it was given a fresh upgrade. Cavalia was set on a bigger scale with beautiful backdrops, live music and MORE WATER. So much water that the whole stage transforms into a lake right before your very eyes. It was magical I tell ya. Can you say *majestic*? Try saying that word out loud with me. That is the word that comes to mind when describing the horses. They gallop, trot and take your breath away. The performers are so precise, elegant, graceful and strong. If you haven't had a chance to check out a Cirque Du Soleil show yet and you love horses (or just feel like being entertained) then come check this out. Tips: *Park elsewhere to avoid the $20 parking lot fees. *The only real food they have are hot dogs, nachos and popcorn. Eat beforehand if you're hungry. read more

Cavalia - Outside tents - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Okay, now that I'm no longer upset about getting my first review deleted, I'm ready to try this again. Last week I was immeasurably surprised when I was whisked off to see this show, the first time I'd ever gone to any show that took place in a tent (outside of camping, that is). The experience was unbelievable! Being a Horse myself, I love my counterparts dearly, and what a treat it was to watch them perform alongside their human companions and trainers. So well bred and beautiful and all things child-like innocence whilst performing to key throughout the entire show. I squealed like a little girl many times. =) Also of noteworthy attention was the music - more specifically the lady with the amazing voice and the band that played with her. Yes, it was ALL live, not some crazy recording. They were out of this world! Her voice itself sent me to another parallel dimension that had me anticipating for the next moment she would sing. I'm buying their CD next chance I get to preserve the memories. All in all, the show was fantastic, and with the best company ever! I now smile every time I pass their billboards. I even went home with a stuffed horse to reinforce the memories of the wonderful night under the tent and stars. I named her Cava, after the show. Please do me a favour and go catch this show before they're gone. You won't regret it. (So, was that a better first-hand review?) Update: Look! I found this awesome video about the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np8WJ_2TbLA&feature=related read more

See all

Not quite sure what makes Larry King call this show "The greatest show I have ever seen." Cause it sure isn't mine. (Also, not too clear on why Larry King could be considered an authority here.) As many have mentioned, for being associated with Cirque du Soleil, this show is rather underwhelming. When you see a Cirque show, you come to expect a level of "holyshithowthehelldidhejustdothat-ness" from nearly every act. Cavalia did not cause me to even think the above phrase at all. In fact, at times, I found myself looking around, wondering what people were clapping for (typically after some very simple stunts). The show was way too long, with several moments of boredom, sprinkled with less than stellar stunts, mistakes, and only a couple of breath-catchers (woman mind-controlling the 8 horses was pretty nice). Costumes were dull, blending in too much with the scenery. They do get praise for the staging and lighting of the show, however. There were several very pretty moments (usually involving just horses, no people), and the live band and singer were positives. I've ridden a fair amount. I have a friend who has been a national dressage champion and currently trains horses and people to ride them. I would far rather spend a few hours watching one of her training sessions than spend the $90 for another Cavalia show. The "holyshitwhythehelldidIjustpaythat?" factor is high for this one. read more

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady on a fine horse, With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes. What makes this show special is the concept. If you are a horse person you can appreciate the skill it takes to have horses that don't flip out during this sort of performance. Lights, music, cheering, clapping. On top of being asked to preform precise choreography. Impressive. The acrobatics were pretty fun and put that together with really innovative equestrian combinations. As a horse person I really really appreciated the skill that went into this performance. I don't know if the average person can appreciate it as much. I wanted entertainment. I was entertained! read more

If your into seeing horses jump over a log, walk sideways and run next to each other then by golly this is for you! If your into paying hundreds of dollars to see horses run around in a little circle then this is for you! If you love the idea of sitting in a crappy small *** plastic seat for 3 hours then this is for you! The only thing special about this show is the lights and the atmosphere they create. There is absolutely nothing spectacular the horses do, this is not acrobatics, this is not cirque de soleil, this is seeing horses run around in a circle. read more

I was so very much disappointed by this show. It is more of a circus with horses as props. FIrst of all-I am a huge Cirque du Soleil fan so I had high expectations but I felt this show was more of the slower portions of a Cirque du Soleil show with horses added. The horses don't really do much but go in circles with acrobats around or riding them (while still going in circles). If you've seen fine equestrian events or work with horses, I felt what the horses did was not worth the money--there are better horse acts at the Rodeo. If you want to see horses, perhaps go to Keenland (KY). Only one act, the trick riding was woth seeing, not sure $100/ticket though. read more

So disappointing! I saw Cavalia when the show came to San Francisco about 6 years ago. THAT show was amazing. THIS show is pretty much crap! The one terrific act was the woman interacting in a beautiful and amazing way with the group of 8 white horses. That was the kind of thing that highlighted the former Cavalia, but was totally missing from this version, except for the one lovely act. Generally, the horses looked miserable, with swishing tails, pinned ears and frothy mouths. The riders looked terrible - bouncing all over the place. The dressage moves looked forced and freakish. The horses were not treated with respect, they were treated like props. It was ugly. The final act was absurd: the acrobats jumping around like a bunch of fleas, artificial snow pouring down from the ceiling, and two horses tromping around in the midst of it. The the heck was that about? It was like a joke, except it wasn't funny. The essential spirit of the show is absolutely gone. I'm guessing that a key horse person is no longer part of the show, and with that person went the heart and the love of horses. What's there now is a travesty. Stay away! BH read more

This could have easily been edited down to a 40 minute show. The trick riding and dressage numbers were amazing but there was a lot of boring filler with mediocre acrobats and corny acting. The graphics were silly and the music was awful. The horses were great - I wish it had been more about the horses and less about the people. read more

Went tonight and took my partner and my mother to this amazing show. We all really enjoyed it for different reasons. To start off, we parked next door and only paid $10 instead of $20. We went to the matinee on a Saturday so traffic wasn't a problem. The weather was decent for San Francisco ( but it gets really warm inside the tent). My sister said we should go because she saw it over Thanksgiving and said we would enjoy it. She described it as Cirque de Soleil with horses. I couldn't imagine how that would work but since I enjoy the Cirque's and loved horses as a kid, I wanted to see how they made it into a show. The first act was good, a little slow, but it gets you in the mood for the rest. I actually like the Cirque music. I must admit, the acrobats and trapeze stuff was good, not great. I was used to Cirque, so wasn't that impressed with the stunts by the acrobats. I still enjoyed it, I was just hoping for more. But then, the cool stuff with the horses started and every time the horses were center stage I was happy. The girl with the lasso/ropes was my partner's favorite part. She also liked the girl who rode six horses. The horses were beautiful and seemed to enjoy what they were doing. I watched their ears which tell what the horse is thinking. A couple times the horses didn't want to do something, but that didn't detract from the show. In fact, a couple times the audience just laughed. Act two was my favorite. The blonde girl who worked with 8 stallions circling around her, nuzzling each other, playing, running...this was the best part for me. They were beautiful, and you could tell she loved those horses. I saw all ages in the audience enjoying themselves; definitely a family show, just a pricey one. I only have one complaint and that is that the seats are really uncomfortable. If you are a large person or a tall person, you will be uncomfortable. Bring a little pillow or something. Definitely I am recommending it for everyone I know. They extended it through January 2nd at this point so try to catch it if you can. read more

I saw the show, it was good. Didn't realize it was really a "trained animal" act, but, the horses were beautiful. Came home and wanted to train my dog. My bone to pick (complaint) is the outrageous service fees- including a fee as to how to receive tickets, I would rather have the fee as part of the ticket price, instead of an additional fee. Seeing ALL the full page, color advertising, non stop advertising, It begs the question if the ticket price actually pays for all the advertising. And once a customer is hooked...service fees! After we bought non refundable full price tickets plus service fees (4 tix@$600), to be targeted for discounted tickets, adds insult to injury. My other bone is the weirdness of the horse riding staff was white and the (amazing) acrobats were black. Sort of a throwback to pre-civil rights era entertainment. It made me uncomfortable to see that segregation on a SF stage. Turning a blind eye to those issues, we appreciated the production values, the sets, the costumes, the lighting, the transitions. The visual artists deserve praise for their beautiful work, And how could I forget: the volume of the music was way too loud and was unpleasantly deafening. Someone with normal hearing might want to check the decibel levels during the show, I think they are outside the realm of safety or health. Bring 2 sets of ear plugs, you'll need them. read more

Such a mixed bag on this one. My boyfriend treated me to this show as a x-mas present. There were some truly exceptional and beautiful scenes in this show combined with a few that were pretty lackluster and boring. The "tricks" seemed fairly amature to me for the most part and many times they were not completed well--or at all. There were MANY mistakes. The horses were beautiful and well cared for (it seemed). The costuming was TERRIBLE. The outfits blended into the scenery and it was often hard to know which way to look on the gigantic space. The music was a bit much as well. I am ready to never hear anything like it again. I imagine that it must be necessary in order to calm the horses, but it seemed very repetitive to me. All in all, there were moments that made me glad we had gone. Some were truly moving and well executed. It is too bad that the whole show wasn't up to par. read more

I'm not a horse person. I know absolutely nothing about horses... I'm a person who knows entertainment. I love asking "How'd they do that?" and "that" is most often accomplished by some form of special effect or trick. Not this show. Cavalia is the purest demonstration of raw talent on all levels I've seen in a LONG time! It was artistic, engaging, and highly memorable. Go see it while you can - and bring your family! read more

Cavalia - Before the show - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was skeptical of the show since they have Larry King saying 'It's the greatest show I've ever seen' for their billboards. Honestly, would never ever think that Larry King is an authority on performing arts. I think this show is for die hard horse lovers only. I thought it was decent since I'm am equestrian. On the other mind, my husband didn't enjoy it at all. The show really didn't blow my mind like Cirque productions I've seen. I really wouldn't compare it to a Cirque show. It's a bit spendy for a ok production. I just expected a bit more for the price. read more

This was amazing. I have never seen horses and humans interact like this show. The bond between the equine performers and the humans was thrilling to see. The riders were exceptional, the lighting and music was perfect, but the horses ..... STARS. Admittedly, this is not an inexpensive outing, but worth the splurge for the holidays. Note: dress in layers as it is warm inside and you are packed in like sardines. If you have long legs, good luck! read more

Absolutely amazing show! Beautiful horses, stunning sets, helpful staff, easy parking. Expensive but worth it. When you get there, you can upgrade to the rendezvous package for $40 per person which includes dinner, free beer & wine throughout the show and a tour of the stables after. You can't pet the horses but you get to see them up close in their pens. NOTE for the ladies...do not wear heels! Although theres not a ton of walking, all of the surfaces are uneven & make it hard to walk in them. And, it was wet & a bit muddy in places. Our daughter is 9 & likes horses but isn't fanatical about them but she was thoroughly entertained during the show. read more

Thanks to hubby for the opportunity to see this absolute beautiful horse show filled with elegance, excitement, and delight. The stadium style seating wasn't the most comfortable seats to sit in, but once the show started I quickly forgot. The acrobats and aerial wonders displayed were mystically phoenominal. Definitely grab dinner elsewhere before coming (the cost of eating here is so overpriced). If you can somehow afford it, see this show. read more

I agree with many of the posters. And would give it 3.5 stars. Cons: The seats were tiny and uncomfortable with some bizarre bump in the back of them to seperate your butt cheeks. Costumes - bad. Acrobatics - amateur. Music - not right for this type of production, and I think there was a Bolero rip off in there. LOTS of Filler and not even good filler. Sometimes too much was going on and you didn't know where to look. If you go - keep your eyes on the horses. Pros: A few of the horse numbers were amazing and beautiful and when do we see this kind of thing in person. It was interesting to see all the different breeds of horses and each breed seemed to have a talent. I was just expecting to see more. Second half alot better than the first half. All in all I liked it, it was something out of the ordinary and did entertain. Then again I got Goldstar prices, and may have felt different if I paid full price. read more

Cavalia - "The best show I've ever seen" -- Are you serious? First off, It is wayyyyyyy over priced! You pay so much to get cramped in those very uncomfy seats. BF took me here for Christmas, and I just could not believe how expensive this show is ($300 for 2). Honestly, I was pretty pissed when i found out. Anyways, we did get some great seats and very close to the stage. At first I was extremely excited, esp seeing lots of ads all over sf. Then the show begins.. the horses were really pretty. They run around in circles, run across the stage, maybe 1 or 2 knows how to bow, and that's about it. The show itself is ok, slow in the beginning... picks up later, and got slower again. If it wasn't overpriced, I would have gave it a 5! But for the $, the chairs, the parking (free 2 hours parking outside but the show is 3 hrs long), $20 in parking lot.. I'm sorry i have to give it a 3. This show is really worth $50bucks.. Treat urself to Teatro Zinzanni or Cirque du Soleil when they're in town again. read more

If you're a horse lover, this is a must see. You will be whisked away into a playful, magical world that doesn't seem real, but is. If you're an equestrian, this is a must see. You will be awed by the level of training and dedication shown by the people and the horses. You will "get" Sylvia Zerbini, feel her connection with and dedication to her horses, and she will make you want to run home and hug your horses. And her. If you're a Cirque lover but not too familiar with horses, this is a must see. It will turn you on to the power, beauty, grace, and intelligence of the equine animal, while still dazzling you with flying and colors and great live music. If you have children, this is a must see for them. Just be careful, horses are an expensive hobby Mom & Dad! Thank you Cavalia for presenting us with a beautiful dream, and for putting in the incredibly hard work to give it life. It's simply wonderful. *Addendum: I don't know that I've ever directly called out another Yelper's reviews before - however, after reading some negative reviews that have appeared - specifically, one from Rita W. who has only one - this one - review to her Yelp account, I have some comments. 1. Anyone who comments "so much for professional horse training" when horses don't perform perfectly, like machines... has laughably never trained a horse. They're NOT dogs. 2. Anyone who says they go to see a show "since the Artistic Director... helped create Cirque du Soleil" ... and then complains that the show is a "just a lot of separate acts" ... has probably never actually seen the vast majority of other Cirque shows. "O" perhaps? You get two main characters as the through-line there, among multiple separate acts. Did you know some of the horses were "characters" in Cavalia? No, because you thought they were dogs. 3. Anyone who complains about "trudging through a rainstorm" to see a San Francisco show, as if it were the show's fault that, oh my goodness, IT RAINS in San Francisco.... is a complete idiot. Please, don't come back. On to the other negative reviews about "filler" with acrobats and acting, there are a couple of things that need to be understood here. I agree, the acrobatic acts - in level of difficulty - were not on par with most Cirque shows. HOWEVER - the main reason for this is that you cannot simultaneously rig a safe "flying" (what trapeze is called in the performer world) and acrobatic stage AND make that same stage accessible and safe for equine performers. So a balance has to be struck. There is no way you could have horses perform on the sets of Ka, O, etc, because of the nature of those sets as well as the safety equipment necessary for the acrobatics. Some people just don't know enough about horses to understand this. Also, the horses need time to regroup physically and psychologically between their individual performances, and this requires some of the performers to be with them, which means there has to be "filler" in between some of the horse acts. It's all about compromises. On my two trips to this show, yes, one time the man did fall when doing a flip while standing atop two galloping horses (ever tried it?). The attempt and willingness of the horses to participate is what makes it magical regardless of the "win." And despite its subtle, yet for the most part unavoidable flaws, during both shows I attended the audience was collectively awed - and clearly enjoyed every minute. And, knowing what I know about horses and acrobatics, so did I. read more

Stop! If you are thinking of going to this show and buying your tickets online. Stop now. Save yourself the headache. Forget about what I think of the show... the customer service is outrageous. I bought two tickets online and was charged twice for the tickets. When I called I got a french lady with a big attitude who informed me that I must have bought two sets of tickets because when the system double bills someone (INDICATING THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME) that it usually happens on the same date.... and that my transactions happened on two different days. Therefore she would not be able to refund my tickets or the HEFTY service fees because she needed to cover her costs. Then she wanted to know why I hadn't contacted them sooner... to which I told her I had TWO voicemails into their message system. For $222 for two tickets and a system that apparently regularly double bills people, I would STAY AWAY from this show and anything having to do with it. read more

I was taken here for my Christmas present. Later on I saw the ticket price for our thrid row seats and about choked....wow that was expensive, and I could not have afforded to do this on my own. But it was over two hours of magical, creative, acrobatic, you-name-it entertainment. And it was more than that...I've spent decades of my life around horses. I ride with average competence. But if you asked me if the things I saw here could be done with horses, I'd have said "no". These people have created something that transcends a horse show...they have connected with the equine mind in a way I've not seen before. If you don't know or understand anything about horses, maybe you won't have the eyes to see this....but "this" is what makes this entire offering what it is. Half of the program consists of horses, uncontrolled by anything other than voice or gesture (and sometimes not even that), performing under their own initiative. Horses are not exactly known for this kind of capacity in most circles, but there it is, and I saw it. Something of profound beauty has been accomplished here, and I will never forget what I saw. This was an exploration of the spiritual relationship between horse and man, an expression of what can exist when the people learn how to communicate with the horse. I'm not blind to the fact that there are better riders and acrobats and dancers or "tighter" dressage performances out there in the world....that isn't what Cavalia was about. The people and the horses are obviously and genuinely joyful in their art...all the usual human pretentiousness and arrogance that goes with so many equestrian activities is refreshingly missing here. read more

You should only go to this show if you're extremely into horses. I mean EXTREMELY. We were clearly not horse people and for the most part it just appeared that the horses were running/walking around and doing little steps. Don't get me wrong it is impressive that the horses were trained to the extent where they were able to do all these coordinated tasks however not impressive enough for this price tag for a non self acclaimed "horse person". The acrobats which others have called "filler acts" were actually the highlight of the whole thing for us, but not enough to save the show in its entirety. If you think this is going to be a cirque du soleil caliber show but just with horses, you will be sorely disappointed. Save your $$$ for another show unless you live breathe and love horses. read more

Summary: The show tries to be a fusion of Cirque du Soleil+horses, but doesn't pull it off. If this were, say, Norman Oklahoma this might pass for (slightly) above average entertainment. But you can do MUCH better for your entertainment dollar in the Bay Area. Pluses: 1) Good presentation. Well done set. Comfortable seating; 2) Good location. Mission Bay (south of SOMA for those outside the City) is relatively easy to find parking; 3) friendly staff; 4) A couple of the skits were fairly entertaining. One with about 6-8 horses + 1 trainer was cool, and the acrobatic show after the intermission was decent; 5) if you're an equestrian, you may like the show. I noticed a few people in the stands that seemed inordinately impressed with some of the horse tricks and I assume they had a background in horses (or they were family/friends of the staff); Minuses: 1) The horses and people just didn't blend together. The parts where they were combined were lame & boring; 2) They were going for an artistic vibe with the music, and such, but it just. didn't. work; 3) almost all the acrobatic parts were average at best. Actually, that's being charitable. 4) most of the time, the horses are just going in circles (with or without riders). Yawn. Every once in a while the horses run from one side of the stage to another. Uh, OK. The 4 minuses make up the vast majority of the show. I think I'm actually being pretty charitable with 2 stars. But if you're into horses you may find it moderately interesting. read more

The night: I saw this show two days ago, Saturday night at 8pm. This is actually the second time I've seen Cavalia; my family and I also went last time it was in the Bay Area (About 6 years ago). Anyways, it was pretty cool to see the show in it's new form. Extras We got the Rendezvous package- 4th row seats, plus dinner before the show, dessert at intermission, and a tour after. Very pricey, but I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. There was an open bar with complimentary wine, sodas, water, and PLENTY of food. Hot and cold- Brazilian BBQ, sushi, some wraps, pasta, shrimp, and the most FANTASTIC salad with raspberry dressing. We hung out before the show, the atmosphere was nice, although one tent was a bit warm. It was interesting to see the variety between attire- very casual to very formal, no one seemed to know how to dress, but somehow it all worked. The intermission was also nice, desserts were delicious; it was a little rushed but not terrible. The tour after the show was more relaxed. The barn was incredible- it didn't even smell like horses. As someone who grew up around horses, this was rather mind-blowing. They asked that no one touch the horses, or cluck/kiss to them, or take pictures with the flash. A lot of people did take pictures and seemed to enjoy it. Given that there are more pictures of me with horses than not from birth to age 18, I felt no need for yet another horse picture. It was fun to find the horses who had been my favorites in the show and see them just chilling and eating. The show: I loved it. I felt like a little kid at times, leaning forward in my seat with my hands over my mouth. My favorite scenes were the one with the 8 stallions free (Little grey Arab- FAVORITE) as well as the roman riding. I think we missed one scene with the roman riding with 6 horses- someone fell off and the horses spooked at the side of the stage and they got them all off pretty quickly. The 6 or 7 guy acrobats were awesome- they looked like they were having a great time. I think my favorite part was when the horses "seemed" to disobey- you never know if they really were or if it was part of the show. This was especially notable during the act with the 8 stallions- they were like disobedient 5 year olds who WANTED to please mom but everything else was just SO. INTERESTING. In a word, it was breathtaking. I didn't stop smiling, except to gasp. The training these horses have is incredible- so impressive for horse and non-horse people. I was a little disappointed by overall experience of the show. There was a huge decrease in the presence of the horses in general. I remember 6 years ago the opening scene consisted ONLY of two foals/young-uns ambling across stage and frolicking and playing with the toys for a good 5-10 minutes. The singer was unseen, and no one came onstage till the very end. The whole show was just much much lighter on the horse aspect of it. The horse was still emphasized and highlighted, but not in the same way. Understandable, since the original company (that owned the show when I saw it) went bankrupt- they were doing something that didn't quite work, it's just sad that to appeal to the public more they had to lose so much horse-ness. But I truly think this opinion is colored by the fact that I remember the show in a semi-idealized haze of one of my first trips to the bay area as a young teen with my family-now I live here- and the first time I had ever seen any show other than a movie at the theatre. My overwhelming advice: SEE IT!! read more

Very very expensive , not worth paying!!!! I got 4 tickets and was charged $50.00 for services. What kind a services is that I don't really know. After 25 minutes in line to get the tickets from will call, I don't know what services they charging for. Be prepared to pay $25.00 for parking. The music is so annoyed! read more

We took my daughter to a show in Redmond at the end of January and it was amazing! Acrobats, horse trainers/riders and trapeze artists combined into one show, great for all ages but especially kids 5 and older. The show was a little long but was still a lot of fun. I recommend doing the Horse Lover Package as you get to go and see the horses after the show. I hope they bring it back to Seattle area in the future when my daugther is older. read more

Parking - Don't even try the $10 lot down the street. There is one automatic machine for the entire lot and you have to pay ahead so the line is so long that you'll never make it inside. Just suck it up and pay for the $20 lot. Seats - I literally couldn't fit my legs in front of me. I had knee surgery a year ago so I can't keep my leg fully bent for 2 straight hours without pain. I'm fine in a movie theater but we were so scrunched together in these seats that I was still in pain hours after the show was over. Acts - Mostly mediocre with some awesome ones and some truly worthless ones. I ride so I went to see horses but at least 50% of the show didn't even involve horses i.e. there were either no horses on stage at all or they were just standing there as props. There were tons of acrobatic acts that seemed to imitate Cirque du Soleil but were of much lesser quality. There were a couple acts involving horses that made the whole thing worthwhile: 1) a woman who directed a small herd of beautiful grays to run around her without any equipment and do various tricks while she stood on the ground; 2) two female dressage riders who mirrored each other (although most of what they did was barely second level except for one brief piaffe and passage spirt at the very end); and 3) a male rider who appears to be the trainer (or is at least way better than all the other riders) who did some real, quality dressage. The other horse acts were mostly horses running around in circles not doing anything too interesting. Tickets - Don't forget to get them on Goldstar to get a discount. read more

is this the best equestrian show out there? no is this the best acrobatics show out there? no is this the best musical performance? no but it is a very unique, exciting, beautiful, and overall fun experience We went closing night, and opted for the player-package (ie: Rendez-vous) which included: -free parking right outside the tent, -separate pre-party tent for rendez-vous ticket holders -a nice buffet dinner (meats and veggies were tasty, pasta was not), -open bar (my favorite two-word phrase in the english language!) which also had bottled water to take with you into the show -great seats! (yes, the seating is uncomfortable, especially for the long-legged folk) -desserts/open bar at intermission (lots of cookies, brownies, and mini cheesecake cupcakes ::drool:: -access to stables post-show, though most of the horses were busy feeding instead of posing for pictures, it was still fun to walk around and see them up-close We found the show entertaining. Just go in with expectations in order. You are not going to see the most amazing equestrian stunts, but they will attempt some standing backflips on horseback while the horse gallops around the stage. All-in-all its an expensive ticket, but nowadays everything is right?! We got Goldstar discount tickets, but I figure with all the extras it was worth it. The entire crowd gave a rousing standing ovation at the end of the show, so that's a pretty good sign that the show was a good one! read more

Hands down, the best live show I have ever seen! Amazing customer service too, went on an uncrowded week night and they had some empty seats front and center which they upgraded me, and a bunch of other people in the audience to for free... read more

A fabulous show! Amazing to watch the horses and handlers interact. Loved the scenery changes and was in awe of the acrobatics. Enjoyed the 'Rendevous' beforehand for dinner, at intermission for dessert and after the show for a tour of the stables - loved seeing the horses up close. Definitely worth it! read more

I'm fairly certain Jay Leno must have been paid to say, "It's the greatest show I've seen!" It was very disappointing considering the price of the tickets. Pretty horses are about the only thing worth seeing. But if that's all you're after, so see some eventing shows that are around in the bay area. Pretty horses there too. Save your money and go see War Horse that is playing in SF. That was an incredible show!! I understand why Calvalia charges so much money for their tickets, they fly those horse around in a 747. Now that's gotta cost a pretty penny! read more

Show is amazing. Only 2 bars and they need to work things out. Both bars super slow (one doesn't know what they are doing, other are 2 guys getting slowed by every single girl stopping by). Cavalia needs to work this out. read more

I was so lucky to have been treated to this show over the holidays and just loved it. The lighting, live music and horses were dazzling. I would have liked to have seen a bit more acrobatics, but what there was - was well done. Parking was a breeze and available right at the tent. Definitely worth seeing. read more

There were a few acts that kept me intrigued while there were others that should have been omitted from the show (mostly the human acrobatic stunts). Nothing blew me off my seat hence the 3 stars. With all the hype, I think my mom came to expect more of the show. But realistically there's only so much you can do with horses. I hear the show has made huge improvements since the last time they were in town. read more

The show reminds me of a Rodeo cross w/ le Cirque. My mom and wife loved the acrobatics of both the riders and the acrobats. Its a thrill ride. Just be wary of the stairs for folks who may have knee issues.. Got our tix from Goldstar - which saved a bundle. And there's parking next door for $10.. read more

I was treated to this show for a present. I was so excited to go. When we go there we where seated in the middle of the room. I was so excited!!! Then the crowds of people came in and filled up the room. I then realized that I had no leg room. I'm not that big of a person but I couldn't get compatible. I was sitting there and kept getting the back of my head hit by the person behind me. I waited for something exciting to happen like the Vegas shows but there was not much that was too exciting. I felt bad for the actors since they seemed to have to ask for applause after performing a trick. The horses where pretty but some of them seemed to be less willing then others. Some of the actors didn't seem like they wanted to be ridding they weren't smiling they looked mad. I was a little shocked. The lady with the 8 horses was pretty good. The trick riders where a little much over played. The children that where with me asked what is next I just told them wait something will happened. For the amount of money that was spent I was hoping to see something that made you want to say WOW!! We spent over $400 that night. I felt like we were rob. I would have felt a little better if the cost was around $80 for all of us. I would say please be advised that this is not a show that is full of horses jumping up and doing tricks. This is a show where there is singing that is good. But there is no story line there is acts that are all different and different type of dressing up. If you are a tall person please understand that there is no leg room so you might want to buy a isle seat. I just wish that I knew all of this before I went. I'm being very honest when I say that I was greatly disappointed I'm a long time horse lover and owner and I can't believe that people can charge people so much money. I felt very bad for some of the people that I spoke to that said that they saved money to come see the show and they just looked so sad that they spent their hard earned money for this show. I know that the truth hurts but the reviewers on here are correct when they only give this one star since that is all its worth. Save your money read more

Amazing show! Loved seeing the beautiful artistry. Not a horse person but I am definitely converted because of this show. Had a VIP pass so I got to meet the four legged stars. read more

I'm not really ' horsey ' but this riveting spectacle puts magic and muscle into the phrase 'horse opera'. Mostly riveting choreography melding beautiful acrobats, daring aerial dancers, live music, fantastic settings and of course the highly trained beautiful horses. The last act features a 'heavenly lake' and I think is more of an encore after the show had peaked earlier. Swooping aerialists dodging blobs of floating horse poop broke the spell. Nevertheless, fine and moving entertainment ! Yes it is pricey for a family ... Seniors get a little break... I was comped. read more

Cavalia - Outstanding! The wife and I saw the San Francisco show and it was truly fantastic. The stage is magnificent; backdrops are breath taking and amazing. We saw the event about 6 years ago and it was worth going back. The show builds throughout the evening with more and more complicated events. Do not miss this extraordinary show! read more

I took my daughter to Cavalia in SF for her 18th birthday and we were horribly disappointed! It was not at all what is said to be. The only human/horse connection was when a woman was on stage with 8 white horses - it was beautiful. The rest was like a circus and the horses looked miserable! My daughter owns a horse and rides with a group of very talented young people and I am way more impressed by the riding abilities of them. The tickets are VERY over priced - seat were extremely uncomfortable and cramped. Save your money - not worth it! Go see a 3 day eventing horse show for free - you will REALLY see the connection of riders with their horses! read more