Welcome to 2099.
A new light and sound experience has taken over a portion of the Toronto Zoo this winter. On until April 2020, Terra Lumina Night Walk by Moment Factory is a 1.5 km trip by foot to the year 2099 and back with a series of installations featuring lighting, multimedia, video projections and music. Each stop aims to inspire, presenting a future where we live in harmony with nature.
Zoo animals are not part of the experience, but if you’ve been to the Zoo before, you’ll definitely recognize some of the areas even in the dark, like the polar bear exhibit that now is a backdrop for the POLAR POWER, a dramatic video of polar bears choreographed to music.
Our favourite stop was the LUMINOUS FOREST, a pathway near the start of the walk that glows with immersive green and blue beams of light. (The photo above doesn’t come close to capturing the experience.)
The video projections, particularly THE WOLVES’ WELCOME, are really impressive. For the kids in TOw, the narration, like in the area VANISHED SPECIES where wildlife from the past, present and future speak about how the future came to be, might need an adult to help them fully grasp the message. Kids will likely enjoy the hands-on aspect (banging on drums) of the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
The walk takes about an hour from start to finish. It’s stroller/wagon-friendly. It’s dark so if you bring kids along, you might want to wear something that lights up to help you/them easily recognize each other if someone wanders a bit ahead or behind. There is a lot of stimulus – flashing lights, dramatic and loud sounds and dry ice, so it’s really depends on whether you or your kids can take it in.
Be sure to dress for the temp – there are a couple campfires at the start and end, plus a few spots of coffee/cocoa and snacks.
TRIP TIPS:
Getting there: The Toronto Zoo is located north of the 401 at Meadowvale. Parking is $8 – if you have a Zoo membership that includes parking, your pass will work for this event. A TTC bus operates between the Zoo and Meadowvale and Sheppard every 10 minutes until the last showing.
Low-down: Admission is $29.99 plus tax for adults and $25.99 plus tax for kids (3-12). You can buy tickets and parking online – first entrance starts at 6:30 p.m. and is every 15 minutes until 8:45 p.m. Here’s a map the route:
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