Some 65 horses arrived in Atlanta this week for "Cavalia," which opens Oct. 27. AJC/Jamie Gumbrecht

The biggest stars in “Cavalia” arrived in Atlanta by truck this week, with the U.S. and Georgia departments of Agriculture waiting to greet them. Some 65 horses in the Cirque du Soleil-styled rodeo unloaded into roomy stables erected in Atlantic Station. Check out these lovely photos of their arrival.

While the horses made their way to their tent, “Cavalia” creator Normand Latourelle took me on a short tour of the grounds. He’s never ridden a horse, which seems bizarre till he explains that he helped to create Cirque without attempting the trapeze.

He’s just all about happiness and beauty for the audience.

“I want everything beautiful,” he explained. “I want to please the eyes.”

Inside one of the eight large "Cavalia" tents.

He scouted Atlantic Station nearly five years ago for the first U.S. “Cavalia” tour, but it was a construction site then. Now that it has tidied up, he came back with his big white tents, especially designed for a clear view inside and a clean view outside.

They’re still coming together inside, but you can see the stage take shape. There’s just a foot between the rows of 2,000 seats. They’re designed so that every person can see the ground, and the way the horses move on it.

Latourelle wanted hard floors, carpeting and chandeliers — everything that is not reminiscent of a tent. (Check out this by-the-numbers guide to the show. There’s a lot going on.)

Inside the main staging area, they’re hard at work on the floor.

“The ground is the most important part,” Latourelle says.

There’s an integrated trampoline, and a small stream. The sand is trucked in, along with rubbery shreds that provide enough grip for the horses to walk on it. It has to be comfortable and safe for acrobats and 50 horses a night.

We hear it will go from this:

"Cavalia" stage, under construction.

To this:

Want to go? “Cavalia,” 8 p.m. most week nights, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 27-Nov. 15. $34.50-$189.50. Under the White Big Top at Atlantic Station. 1-866-999-8111, Cavalia.net.