Vancouver Sun

Lights and Enchantmen­t in Whistler

The Valley’s Newest Adventure Exceeds All Expectatio­ns

- FEET BANKS

It’s the most talked about thing in a town with more than enough cool stuff to talk about… Vallea Lumina is a new nighttime multimedia forest adventure combining the natural beauty of the Whistler coastal rainforest with multimedia technology that uses light, sound, projection­s, lasers and other contempora­ry magic to create an interactiv­e journey into a lost valley and a world of wonder. And Whistler audiences can’t get enough.

“It has exceeded all of our expectatio­ns,” says Karen Brooks of The Adventure Group, who co-created Vallea Lumina with Montreal-based multimedia wizards Moment Factory. “We’re extremely thrilled to have had such a positive response and it’s very encouragin­g to see such a high level of interest continuing several weeks after we first opened.”

Known for mind-bending visuals and totally immersive multimedia experience­s, Moment Factory works from a philosophy of using technology to bring people together. “We tell stories,” their website says, “that reconnect us to each other and to a sense of belonging to something bigger.” While Moment Factory has created similar outdoor Lumina shows in Eastern Canada, this marks their first foray into the big mountains and towering forests of the west coast. Local trail builders worked closely with Moment Factory artists and engineers, taking three months to design and construct the one-hour nighttime hike. Since early August, once the sun goes down, the forest has been lighting up with the excitement of Vallea Lumina guests from around the world. The way Vallea Lumina uses technology to incorporat­e and accentuate the natural Whistler landscape is impressive, inspiring and utterly captivatin­g. “Vallea Lumina uses a universal language,” Brooks continues. “It speaks to audiences of all interests and brings generation­s together. The story and trail are inspired by the culture and the natural beauty of the location, giving visitors a unique opportunit­y to explore and engage with the environmen­t like never before.” “Our company exists to create moments for people that will be memorable and impactful through their interactio­n with nature,” says The Adventure Group Founder & CEO Joey Houssian. “This is a natural evolution for us.”

And a natural success. The hype is real, however, so it’s advisable to book ahead.

 ?? PHOTO BY MOMENT FACTORY COURTESY THE ADVENTURE GROUP WHISTLER ??
PHOTO BY MOMENT FACTORY COURTESY THE ADVENTURE GROUP WHISTLER

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