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After what seems like forever, Canadian Swifties can rejoice Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour finally descends on Toronto (November 14-16 and November 21-23) and Vancouver (December 6-8).

Call it a miracle, but I was lucky enough to attend three shows on the Eras tour around the world: in Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and the reworked version of the Department of Tortured Poets in Hamburg, Germany.

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I guess that makes me something of an expert at attending a concert, which is surrounded by more hype than any pop show in history.

If you’re lucky enough to have tickets to a Canadian date of Swift’s tour, I’ve got five tips for you to get the most out of the Eras Tour experience.

Be prepared for surprises

Swift likes surprises. And a Canadian date could be one of the biggest announcements of the tour.

Swift has been releasing her re-recorded albums, titled Taylor’s Versions, since 2021 – announcing both Speak Now and 1989 during her tour. She still has two albums left: Reputation and her debut album, which many Swifties think she will release as a package (theoretical nickname: Debutation).

I don’t like going down rabbit holes, but Swift said she chose the latter stages of The Eras tour. Since T for Toronto and V for Vancouver are an acronym for Taylor’s Versions, I wonder: could either city get an album announcement?

Other surprises might include guest stars: Florence Welch traveled to London and Miami to play Florida!!! while Ed Sheeran, Sabrina Carpenter, Ice Spice and Swift’s partner Travis Kelce all took the stage with her.

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Will Kelce be present on the Canadian tour dates? The Kansas City Chiefs will play a game in Los Angeles during Taylor’s final show Dec. 8 in Vancouver, but he appears to be available to attend — and could possibly make another appearance on stage — Dec. 6-7 at BC Place .

Aside from potential performers, it’s a safe bet that a few famous friends will be in the audience for his latest shows, and the Vancouverite Ryan Reynolds and his wife (and Swift BFF) Blake Lively are two potential boldface names.

Beyond that, Swift offers a surprise song section each night, so you have no idea what she’s going to crush until she starts singing.

Arrive early for merchandise

Eras Tour merchandise has taken on a life of its own, especially that famous gray-blue crewneck. Strangers offered me money to buy the sweatshirt – straight off my back. That’s how hot a product this is.

If you want to win some Swift goodies, get there early and be strategic: go to the sales booths furthest from the front doors for the best chance of getting what you want. If you have a group, divide and conquer to see which line moves the fastest before items run out.

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Study fan rituals

Fan interaction is taken to the next level during the Eras Tour, with Swifties developing their own rituals while the singer is on stage. If you want to participate, I recommend watching a few videos on social media to prepare.

The most famous chant is shouting “1, 2, 3, let’s go, bitch!” » during the Delicate reputation track. Another involves a quick double clap during You Belong With Me.

A recent addition from the European leg is bringing yellow and orange balloons to use during the Evermore Single Willow. The balloons and phone lights mimic the large orange orbs that Swift and her dancers use on stage.

Be prepared for a long night

I’ve been to quite a few concerts, from the Spice Girls to Destiny’s Child and Britney Spears in their heyday – but Swift’s Eras tour is the longest pop concert I’ve been to.

The 44-song set list spans three hours and 15 minutes, meaning you might need a bathroom break at some point. The good news: There are a few places that fans have identified as unofficial bathroom breaks during the concert. The first takes place after Swift leaves the stage for Enchanted and before the Reputation set begins, as the transition is longer. Swift, after all, needs to pull off that ball gown. Another good spot is between Reputation and the Folklore and Evermore combo sets.

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I also recommend having an early dinner, especially if you want to avoid being hungry after the concert and ending up in a line at McDonald’s at midnight, like me.

Dress the room

Most fans are wearing a look from their favorite era of Swift. Examples include navy sequins for Midnights and gold dresses for Fearless.

Friendship bracelets are also an integral part of the Eras Tour. If you don’t have time to make your own, there are many Etsy sellers offering ready-made versions for you to use and trade.

For anyone considering towering heels, I highly recommend shoes that are comfortable and you probably won’t be sitting for long during a three-plus hour event.

Getting around from the venue was also hectic during all of my Eras Tour experiences, leading to an unexpected post-show hike. Each. Time.

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