Interactive experience for Taylor Swift fans in Sudbury
Taylor Swift kicked off her Eras Tour stops in Toronto last week and the frenzy for the pop star is expanding north with a tribute show and event later this month.
For those who can't get enough of the icon's music or weren't able to get tickets to see her in person, internationally recognized drag queen Carmen Dior is hosting an interactive experience for Swifties at Sudbury's Knox Hall on Nov. 30.
Eras Tour (Sudbury's Version) tribute to Taylor Swift. (Carmen Dior)
Dubbed Eras Tour (Sudbury's Version), the all-ages event will feature a family-friendly Taylor tribute drag show, friendship bracelet making station, photo walls for every era and local vendors with themed merchandise.
"The Eras Tour has been a phenomenon and it is no secret that Taylor mania is at a high right now," Dior told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an interview Tuesday.
"And I really want to bring more drag to Sudbury."
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
The event is more than just a tribute concert for people who love pop music, concerts and Taylor Swift and luckily for fans, tickets aren't as hard to get for Sudbury's Version.
"It's a celebration of fandom. It's a celebration of togetherness and it's going to be a really, really exciting day and night," she said said.
Six years of drag
Inspired by pop divas such as Swift, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, she started doing drag in 2018.
Dior grew up in Sudbury among the local art scene and has returned home after living abroad in places like Japan and Los Angeles the last couple of years.
"It's always been a way for me to express my true self, my authentic self and my identity and my queerness," Dior said.
"To do events like these is a way for me to embody what was an escape for me when I was younger, growing up and what I hope is an inspiration and also a way for others to become, you know, more comfortable with themselves."
Sudbury drag queen Carmen Dior dressed for her Taylor Swift-inspired reputation era. Nov. 19, 2024 (Chelsea Papineau/CTV Northern Ontario)
Now that she is back in her hometown, she said Sudbury can look forward to more pop-inspired tribute drag shows and queer events.
"Creating more spaces for people to do exciting things and have exciting experiences is really important to me," Dior said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau noncommittal on expanding rebate beyond 'working Canadians'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau does not appear willing to budge on his plan to send a $250 rebate to 'hardworking Canadians,' despite pressure from the opposition to give the money to seniors and people who are not able to work.
'Mayday!': New details emerge after Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Mirabel airport
New details suggest that there were communication issues between the pilots of a charter flight and the control tower at Montreal's Mirabel airport when a Boeing 737 made an emergency landing on Wednesday.
Cucumbers sold in Ontario, other provinces recalled over possible salmonella contamination
A U.S. company is recalling cucumbers sold in Ontario and other Canadian provinces due to possible salmonella contamination.
Latest updates: Tracking RSV, influenza, COVID-19 in Canada
As the country heads into the worst time of year for respiratory infections, the Canadian respiratory virus surveillance report tracks how prevalent certain viruses are each week and how the trends are changing week to week.
Weekend weather: Parts of Canada could see up to 50 centimetres of snow, wind chills of -40
Winter is less than a month away, but parts of Canada are already projected to see winter-like weather.
W5 Investigates A 'ticking time bomb': Inside Syria's toughest prison holding accused high-ranking ISIS members
In the last of a three-part investigation, W5's Avery Haines was given rare access to a Syrian prison, where thousands of accused high-ranking ISIS members are being held.
Federal government posts $13B deficit in first half of the fiscal year
The Finance Department says the federal deficit was $13 billion between April and September.
Armed men in speedboats make off with women and children when a migrants' dinghy deflates off Libya
Armed men in two speedboats took off with women and children after a rubber dinghy carrying some 112 migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean Sea started deflating off Libya's coast, a humanitarian aid group said Friday.
Nick Cannon says he's seeking help for narcissistic personality disorder
Nick Cannon has spoken out about his recent diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, saying 'I need help.'