5 inexpensive ways to celebrate the end of the Eras Tour in Vancouver
Love Taylor Swift, but you don’t have tickets to her show, nor can you afford them? Well, here are 5 different and inexpensive way la to celebrate the end of her Eras tour in Vancouver this weekend.
The city has erected several Taylor Swift, themed light up words around downtown Vancouver, Science World, and Granville Island; and all of it free for public consumption. This is a scavenger hunt where, visiting them all grants you a chance to win tickets to the last leg of her show.
Only fans will understand, but those not familiar with her discography, like myself, can still appreciate the sight of words like “Swiftcover”, “cardigan”, and “delicate” as they make great photo ops
In the West End, the iconic, “A-maze-ing Laughter” sculptures, kitty corner from the beach are also dressed up for the occasion and your next photo op. These are characters in different poses with different facial features that you are encouraged to mimic. A few now own their own set of friendship bracelets. Large beaded sayings around their neck with additional beads on their wrists.
Even globally recognized fast food chains are jumping on the Taylor Swift bandwagon. KFC, known for the fried chicken, has a “Combo 13”, which ironically does not cost $13 nor does it have anything to signify its relation to the Eras. It is a chicken tenders combo with fries and depending on how many tenders you want, the price varies from $11 up to 17. Online and in their in-store marketing material the combo is shown with a special box that has the name “Combo 13” spelled out in friendship bracelet charms.
However, when I ordered it and subsequently inquired, staff informed me that the packaging is normal, and they never had the pictured box. False Advertising. It does come with ranch as a dip, however, not “seemingly ranch”, just the regular KFC branded dip cup. This would have been a great connection and a great collectors item, had there been a little more thought put in the packaging. Taylor Swift has been famously seen eating chicken tenders with ranch, and this combination blew up as a result. I would save my money on this one and get the fast food combo below instead.
The McDonald’s “Bestie Meal” is not only a great deal, but you get more value with this as well. It is a combo for two and includes two small drinks, two small fries, and two value pick menu burgers. Your do have a choice between either a double hamburger or their junior chicken. The best part is that the bundle comes with two friendship bracelets mocking up the ones traded during Taylor Swift’s concerts. There are two to collect one, says “live, laugh, Big Mac”, and the other “share fries l8r?”.
I would order this combo twice in the same day, just for the bracelets, sharing them with my friend. One before our event below, and one after it, so that we could each get both of the different sayings.
And in time for their monthly Science World After Dark, adults only series, they hosted an “Era’s Edition”, with the opportunity to win two tickets to Taylor Swift’s closing concert.
The dome was even lit up in metallic gold, silver, and a purple a blue hue. Harder to see oases try fog, but it twinkled all night like the pop-star’s many costumes. Guests were also invited to dress in their best sparkles for the occasion.
There was a live DJ playing Taylor Swift’s entire body of work for the duration of the night. Four hours of non-stop Taylor Swift songs. Fans were invited to dance to their heart’s content and to sing-a-long. They played the actual music videos, but I wish there were also lyrics listed so that we could do karaoke.
In the auditorium, there was a trivia competition for the hardcore fans, to see who knew the most obscure Taylor trivia.
And in the Exploration Studio ticket holders were invited to build their own binary bracelets using two colours of beads for “0” and “1”.
However, many of us simply made friendship bracelets with the available letter beads at each workbench. Keeping with our McDonald’s friendship bracelet themed my guests and I made “chicken nuggets” and “double quarter pounder with cheese” bracelets.
All this while enjoying wine, beers, and coolers from the pay as you go bar. At the drink parking tables guests drew pictures of her cats and inspiring quotes to one another, and simply celebrated their appreciation for the pop-star.
There are also a few minor nods to the themed night. For instance, at the mirrored cylinder station you could discover “1989” or the portrait of one of the cats via reflection. And someone took the time to punch out her name and “1989” on the pixel pin wall.
However, other than that there wasn’t much more to make us feel like this was a Taylor Swift focus event. I could have done with more decorations, maybe even a disco ball that reflected light on the dance floor. Or some cut out posters of her to take photos with, or even backdrops taken from her most famous videos. However, all the above might be infringing copyright laws.
I would have also liked to see Taylor Swift memorabilia sold at the gift shop, or a themed snack or cocktail available for purchase in her honour at the bar. The event was good but it could have been great with a little more umph. Although, truthfully majority of the guests probably paid the $55 per person ticket for a chance to win $2000 tickets at the event, via random draw.
Regardless of being fans are not, my guest and I had a great time exploring all the exhibits, touching all the buttons, stomping on all the tiles; and truly enjoying the Science World After Dark experience as adults who still enjoy play.
Science World
455 Quebec St, Vancouver, BC V6A 3Z7
(604) 443-7440
scienceworld.ca
