Flowers

For those who travelled to Toronto for the show, the excitement began on the plane: a half-dozen girls and young women exchanging notes on outfits (“You’re doing Lover?” “I’m doing Midnights!” “I’m going as Miss Americana”), making and trading friendship bracelets and even a few headed to the country without tickets, hoping for a day-of miracle. It continued at the bars and restaurants the night before and the day of, with themed cocktails flying and every conversation surrounding, in some fashion, the biggest event that has hit the city in years.

And by the time Taylor Swift took the stage in Toronto on Thursday night (Nov. 14) for the first of six shows, signaling the start of the Canadian final leg of her long-running and record-breaking Eras Tour, it had reached a frenzied pitch, the first notes of show opener “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” nearly drowned out by the screams of those who had waited so long to see a show that may never come back around again.