It has been almost five years since Taylor Swift last graced the city of Minneapolis with one of her notoriously show-stopping stadium performances. In August of 2018, the popstar played to a crowd of over 40,000 at U.S. Bank Stadium amid her record-breaking Reputation Stadium Tour. After hearing her many heartfelt proclamations throughout the weekend of how much she loved playing Minneapolis, then-Gov. Mark Dayton officially memorialized Aug. 31 as “Taylor Swift Day” in the state of Minnesota. It was a remarkable night to be both a Minnesotan and a Taylor Swift fan (or as they label themselves, “Swifities”), especially smack-dab in the historic window of what critics thought to be the biggest, most influential tour of her career.
But they were far wrong.
Swiftie or not, you have likely heard the term “Eras” thrown around over the past four months—it is nearly unavoidable. Social media, headlines, news channels, billboards, and even casual conversation have become fully Eras-infested. Her latest stadium tour, “The Eras Tour,” has taken over the world in a way that is practically unprecedented. Every show she has played over her past 19 stops has sold out. And not just sold out, but overflowed, with fans who didn’t score tickets crowding outside of open-air stadiums to sing along from a distance. Swift has played through a sore throat, a minor cold, in torrential downpours, and into the early hours of the morning, deliberately breaking city sound ordinances. Her three hour, 44-song show leaves fans wanting for little. Traveling across the many wide-ranging genres of her musical library, each “era” represents a different album, sound, and style—encapsulating distinctly vivid moments in time across Swift’s long and wild career. But they represent so much more than that to the fans.
Courtesy of @taylorswift on Instagram
The length of Swift’s career has meant that many fans have been able to grow up alongside her. They might have been going through their very first heartbreak at the time she released “Teardrops on My Guitar,” walking into their first day of freshman year with the lyrics to “Fifteen” swirling in their heads, moving to a big city alongside the release of “Welcome to New York,” falling in love in sync with the dreamy romantics of “Lover,” or sitting alone in fear and isolation, comforted by the melodic lulls of her pandemic-time release, “Folklore.” It’s no wonder this tour holds the gravity it does. Minneapolis fans will not just watch Swift’s eras unfold this weekend, they will literally watch the stages of their own lives flashing back before them.
So, how will Minneapolis commemorate such an event? Since we last saw her, Swift’s fame has only grown in scale. In just five years, she has branded the term “(Taylor’s Version)”, released four new studio albums and two re-records, won her third Album of the Year Grammy, became the first artist to simultaneously occupy the top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100, and was named Songwriter-Artist of the Decade by the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Swift and Minneapolis have a lot of catching up to do.
Image courtesy of @taylorswift on Instagram
So, with Swift officially lurching toward our favorite city, let’s take a look at how we’re preparing to welcome the biggest pop star on the planet back to Minneapolis. It might seem tricky to top creating a statewide holiday in her honor, but Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey might just have done it by renaming the city to Swiftieapolis for the weekend. Not to mention Minnesota Swifties already have been able to convince Metro Transit to extend its service on both concert nights. Here are 13 other ways the Twin Cities are throwing its own personal Taylor party this week. (Because any other number simply wouldn’t be right.)
1. Taylor Fest: The Eras Tour Pre-Party, Amsterdam Bar & Hall, St. Paul
An event proclaimed to be created “by swifties and for swifites,” dancing the night away at Taylor Fest is the perfect way to ring in the Eras weekend, and show Swift that BOTH cities are ready for her. Join the fun June 22 at Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St. Paul.
2. The Minnesota Department of Transportation Offers Swift a Warm Welcome
Courtesy of @theerastourinfo on Instagram
On June 19 you may have seen drivers cruising down Interstate 494 with a strange look on their faces. Likely because they were taken by the view of the electronic traffic sign near Highway 100, which read “Cut off? Don’t get bad blood. Shake it off,” references to Swift’s lyrics.
3. Third Space Cafe in Minneapolis Invents a Taylor Swift-Themed Menu
Courtesy of @thirdspacecafempls on Instagram
Stop into Third Space Cafe in Minneapolis to sip on the limited-time Taylor Swift–themed coffee flight, with a selection of six flavors including “Midnight Rain,” “Back to December,” “Call it What You Want,” “Cruel Summer,” “You Need To Calm Down,” and “Karmel is My Boyfriend.” Available through mid-July.
4. Taylor Swift Flight Night, Flying Dutchman Spirits, Eden Prairie
On June 22, relax on the patio of Flying Dutchman Spirits in Eden Prairie, where you can kick off the Minneapolis leg of the Eras Tour with Taylor Swift-themed cocktail flights. Choose from two different options of four-drink flights, each one created to celebrate Swift’s grand return to the city.
5. Era’s Weekend at Inbound Brew Co., Minneapolis
One day of Taylor Swift celebrations simply isn’t enough for Inbound Brew Co. Join in on its weekend-long Eras party, which will feature a slew of festivities from an Eras-themed photo booth, Taylor Swift trivia, friendship bracelet lounge, Eras beverage pairings, shimmering tap drinks, live karaoke, and a DJ playing the best of Swift all night long. Eras costumes are both welcomed and encouraged at Inbound, events starting June 22 and running through to June 24.
6. Taylor Swift Eras Party Workout, Basecamp Fitness, Minneapolis
Basecamp Fitness in Minneapolis’ North Loop will hold 2 free classes on June 23 featuring (you guessed it) the Eras Tour setlist. Come at 11 a.m. or noon to sweat it out and sing along, in preparation for the big weekend. Recover with delicious samples from Number 12 Cider, offered post-class.
7. Tailgate T-Swift at Fulton Brewing Taproom, Minneapolis
Fulton Brewing Taproom in Minneapolis offers the quintessential Eras tour pregame at its taproom in the North Loop, complete with a non-stop Taylor Swift playlist, trivia, karaoke, prizes, and $1 off food and drinks for those who show their Eras tickets. Fulton invites concert attendees to hop on the train to the stadium after the pre-party, which is less than a 15 minute transit ride away. Event starts at 3 p.m. on June 23.
8. The Eras Official Tay-gate Party, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Courtesy of Adobe Stock
It would practically be a crime to not have the term “Tay-gating” added to the dictionary at the conclusion of the Eras Tour. The fan-created jargon refers to the gathering of crowds outside the stadium before, during, and after shows to drink, dance, mingle, and exchange Taylor Swift friendship bracelets to bring home as memorabilia. Whether you have tickets, all are welcome to join the mob of Swifties at U.S. Bank Stadium’s official Tay-Gating parties, to be held both concert nights just outside of the stadium.
9. M.O.Tay, Mall of America, Bloomington
Still looking for a getaway car to the Eras tour? The Mall of America has you covered, with their M.O.Tay Pre-show Party and SwiftLift. After enjoying the range of festivities offered in the Mall of America’s North Atrium, including exclusive photo ops, a “Bejeweled” station, and friendship bracelet making, catch a ride to the show on the M.O.Tay SwiftLift bus, with service to and from the stadium. Pre-party and rides available both concert dates, through ticket purchase only.
10. KS95’s Era’s Party in Uptown, Minneapolis
Courtesy Adobe/Steve
KS95 will be celebrating the Eras tour at the Green Room in Uptown Minneapolis both Friday and Saturday, with Eras costume contests, Taylor Swift dance tracks, and chance to win two free tickets to Saturday’s concert.
11. Eras Rooftop After-Party at CRAVE Rooftop, Minneapolis
Don’t let yourself slip into the post-Eras depression. Everything will be alright if you just keep dancing—at the ultimate Eras tour after party on CRAVE’s Minneapolis rooftop. DJ Nick (Friday) and DJ Sheik (Saturday) will be playing all Taylor, all night, with a special pop-up drag show from Jade Jolie, RuPaul’s Drag Race professional and notorious Taylor Swift lookalike. Doors open at 10:30 each night, and welcome any and all Swifties, whether concertgoers or not.
12. Taylor Swift Yoga + Mocktails at the Wilderness Fitness & Coworking, Minneapolis
Join Wilderness Fitness & Coworking in Minneapolis for an upbeat Eras-themed Taylor Swift yoga class. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats and dress in their Eras best for the hour-long class. Hydrate in style with a lavender haze lemonade mocktail post-class. This event is scheduled for June 24 at 10:30, with slots filling quickly.
13. Swifite Brunch at Axebridge Wine Co. in Minneapolis
Axebridge in Minneapolis is “calling all Swifties” to attend their Eras-themed Taylor Swift brunch buffet on June 24. Whether you are waking up from your Friday night Eras-heaven, preparing for the Saturday night show, or still wishing you had secured tickets, you will get the Taylor-fix you’re searching for here.
There is all kinds of speculation about how the Minneapolis shows will differ from the other stops on Eras Tour thus far. One popular theory is that Swift will invite Bon Iver (Justin Vernon), who is an Eau Claire, Wisconsin native and Minneapolis resident, to the stage to play their two collaborative songs (“Exile” and “Evermore”) together. Another is that she will indulge in some of her winter-coded songs as an ode to our state’s notoriously chilly winters. But regardless of the specifics, Swift’s return to Minneapolis is an important event for the city in so many ways, especially falling on the same weekend as Twin Cities Pride, with Swift herself a notorious LGBTQIA advocate. Hosting what the Grammys has referred to as “the tour of a generation” and what Frey has predicted will draw in “Super Bowl-level crowds,” the spotlight will certainly be on Minneapolis this weekend, and it will only be amplified by the crowds of Minnesota Swifites clad in sparkles, packing their home city to shine just for Taylor.
