- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Mosaika
Categories: Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Local Flavour Arts & Entertainment Landmarks & Historical Buildings, Local Flavour, Arts & Entertainment [Edit]
Parliament Hill111 Wellington St
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A9
(800) 465-1867
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
4 reviews for Mosaika
4 reviews in English
-
Review from Chris Y.
7/31/2011 3 photos
Sure, I'll give it five stars. So what if Canada's most-important government landmark turns into a Disneyland spectacle every night?!? Lights, music, and fog machines - oh my!!
Anyway, you just walk up to Parliament Hill 15 minutes or so before it starts (start times posted on their webpage), find a good spot to sit on the grass, and wait for the show to start. Bring a picnic blanket or something if you like ... if it's rained recently, the grass might not be too nice. The entire front face of the Parliament Building is the screen for this culture-infused video/light show that is Mosaika.
It was somehow politically charged. I'm not too good with symbolism in the arts, but the European hand kept taking stuff from the First Nations hand, and gave very little in return. Plus there was a lot of French-English controversy. and no Asian representation. Spoiler alert: it all ends happily? Somehow all these differences come together through lights and music to form a happy Canada today. Also, there was a turtle involved somehow.
I will admit that it got very very very very awkward at the end when people started to stand up and sing "O Canada!" I was just kicked back on the grass chillin, and I didn't know what to do.
but hey, all this for a grand total of zero dollars!! It's definitely worth the cost of free, and that's why it gets five stars! -
Review from Jeff O.
7/27/2011
This light show was spectacular. It was like a mushroom trip, with all the lights and narration driving us through the history of Canada. The graphics were extremely well done, the pace was great, and we were kept interested for the entire 30 minutes. I never wanted it to stop.
It's cool that this would be broadcast ON the Parliament, every night of the summer. It was a great introduction to Canada for me, this was the first night my first night in the country. -
Review from Darren M.
Ottawa, ON
11/19/2010 1 photo
This is THE best free show for either a summer date or just a relaxing evening outside in Ottawa.
If you went to the previous Sound and Light show presented on Parliament Hill you may question my review but not until you've seen the revamped one they released earlier in the summer of 2010.
Check out the website to see how they use the technology but if you're anywhere near Ottawa please check out the actual show. The NCC projects amazing quality lights and tells the story of our country using the centre block of Parliament as the screen. There's updated surround sound and the east and west blocks are now involved in the show.
At one point, probably the coolest part of the show, they make Parliament look 3D which is a ridiculous thing to say because the building IS 3D but they use vibrating and fluttering lights and effects to make the building look like it's moving.
This is an absolute must for tourists and also for locals! The lawn of Parliament gets pretty packed and you don't need to find a seat (providing the ground isn't wet) you can just plop down on the grass. The event is free and very accessible and is presented as a bilingual show. -
Review from Amanda D.
Ottawa, ON
11/2/2008 1 photo
This is a trippy patriotic offering at Parliament Hill from July to September. The 30 minute shows are free, twice a night and with seating available anywhere on the lawn, including some bleachers. The Sound and Light Show mainly attracts tourists and families, but I often see many different people out at the show. It basically feels like a crazy, amped up Cliff's Notes version of elementary school social studies. You can't help but get drawn into the energy and feel happy you're able to partake in something like this on Parliament Hill's lawn. Obviously, there are parts where you feel like you're partaking in a bit of propaganda, so take the show with a grain of salt. Actually, the last time I went, the show was usurped by a couple of protesters, including one who peed on the building. I guess it offered a balance through extremes?
Anyway, I would definitely recommend this free offering to anyone looking to do something a bit stereotypically Ottawa (capital of Canada, not city of Ottawa). It's a good time, energizing and kinda weird/funny.
