Nineteen on the Park, an event venue in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ont., was transformed into the ultimate Taylor Swift fan hangout earlier this month as many of her fans gathered to celebrate her current tour. Whether you were gearing up for an Eras tour concert, or just wanted to share in the excitement, the night had a little something for everyone.
“We wanted to create a space where all Swifties could come together and celebrate Taylor,” said Mikayla Ray, one of the event organizers. And that’s exactly what happened. The venue was buzzing with energy, with a friendship bracelet-making station, a Swift-themed photo booth and music blasting from artists ranging from Fearless to Midnights. There was a palpable amount of joy in the room as fans laughed, exchanged bracelets and snapped pictures with props. It was basically a mini-Eras concert without the stage.
For Sophie Taylor, a longtime fan, the event was a chance to connect with others who shared her love for Swift’s music. “It’s really about girlhood,” she said, smiling at the sight of mothers and daughters bonding over their favourite songs. Taylor made a number of colourful bracelets and could hardly contain her excitement about attending an upcoming Eras concert.
With fans flocking to Toronto’s Rogers Centre to catch Swift in action, GO Transit operated a dedicated line to help mitigate against crowds, a fact that didn’t go unappreciated at the Nineteen on the Park event. “There’s specific GO Transit for the concert, so I don’t have to stress about traffic,” said Taylor.
The event felt like a reminder of the community around Swiftie fandom, it’s not only a way to celebrate music, but also a way to bring people together. “It’s all about the connection,” added Ray. For everyone at Nineteen on the Park, the night was the perfect way to celebrate that.