Gabrielle Union tells PEOPLE about her family’s special night in Los Angeles at Beyoncé’s birthday show on the Renaissance World Tou
CROSBY SPARROW/INSTAGRAM; GABRIELLE UNION-WADE/INSTAGRAM
Kaavia James Wade had a first concert experience that she’ll never forget.
Speaking with PEOPLE about her partnership with Great Wolf Lodge, Gabrielle Union opens up about what it was like to take her 4-year-old to Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour stop in Los Angeles on the iconic singer’s birthday.
“It was Kaavia’s first concert outside of seeing characters perform at Disneyland,” Union, 50, tells PEOPLE. “It was way past her bedtime since she goes to bed no later than 7 and Bey doesn’t go on until 8:30/9. She was absolutely delirious.”
Kaavia enjoyed the show alongside her best friend Crosby, with the two of them “having a ball,” until the little one realized her favorite part of the show wouldn’t last long.
“I had to explain to her that Blue is only a small part of the concert,” the Bring It On actress explains. “Kaav was there for a Blue Ivy concert, while the rest of us were there for Blue, as well as her mom.”
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“So when it was Blue’s time to come on, we took them down closer to the stage so she could see, and that was really the only time she was laser-focused. She is obsessed with Blue, so Blue comes on and then when she’s off and Beyoncé comes back, she’s like, ‘Where’s Blue?'”
Union told her Blue’s part of the show was done, at which point she was ready to return to their seats.
“She was eager to get back to her besties and we’re like right there, watching the Queen do her thing on the biggest stage, and Kaavia’s like, ‘Blue is gone? The mom is cool but she hasn’t even sung ‘Single Ladies,’ ” she laughs.
Union jokes, “So she had a good time at the Blue Ivy concert, as we’ve started calling it in our house.”
Daughter Zaya, 17, also had a great time at the show, doing her own thing with friends after arriving with family.
“She is the biggest Beyoncé fan and she was in Club Renaissance and had the time of her life,” Union shares. “It was such an amazing show. Bey is such an amazing woman and performer and it was a massive celebration that felt like something far beyond a concert.”
“It just felt like the biggest, most massive celebration of community. Everyone was really into the theme and wearing silver, but it just felt like such a movement and it was so fun. I definitely had an afterglow for a couple of days afterward.”
It means a lot to Union and husband Dwyane Wade to be able to create “these core, lifetime memories and to be able to provide for her what my parents provided for me.”
GREAT WOLF LODGE
“My first concert was at 5, and I went to go see Earth, Wind and Fire. I have probably seen Earth, Wind and Fire as an adult once a year since I could buy tickets on my own,” she says. “But my parents gave me that first huge, special moment. I remember everything about that concert, more than I remember some whole chunks of my childhood.”
“I’m glad that we could share these things with Zaya and Kaav. D also took Zaya to see Kendrick Lamar at Lollapalooza and we got her hooked up with SZA tickets so she’s been to more concerts, but with this being Kaav’s first one, it was really special.”
Union is teaming up with Great Wolf Lodge to help families looking to burn some morning energy and prepare for the day with the indoor water park resort’s new Adventure Training: Get Fit with the Great Wolf Pack, developed alongside her longtime trainer, Gregg Miele.
“When you wake up and your kids are on 10 and you’re on like 1½, it’s great for those mornings. There are days where your kids get up and you need to burn off some of that morning energy even before you hit the park,” she shares.
“It’s a great place to start. We do some stretching, go into some strength moves and then cardio, and we have a cooldown. It’s cute and fun and sweet and helps with those of us who have children who are very active in the mornings.”