UCF’s Campus Activities Board, best known for organizing major events like UCFest and Pegasus Palooza, recently hosted a Swiftie Knight in honor of Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl. As a certified Swiftie, I had the pleasure of attending, and the experience did not disappoint.
As a huge fan of Taylor Swift, I was delighted to hear that there would be an event on campus for Swifties to meet up, discuss the new album, and have a good time. The event promised free drinks, live entertainment, games with prizes, friendship bracelet trading, and more. I was beyond excited that an event like this was actually on campus and free to attend for all students, and I couldn’t wait to meet all the other Swifties in our UCF community.
The night kicked off with a DJ set from Knights of the Turntable, showcasing Swift’s hits as people arrived at the event. I love listening to the DJ sets from our student body at every event they attend, but it was especially enjoyable hearing a set composed entirely of Taylor Swift songs.
Upon entering, guests were prompted to grab a free drink and materials to make their very own friendship bracelet to keep or trade with others. I made a bracelet with lyrics from “Elizabeth Taylor” and got the opportunity to chat with other Swifties. I love the concept of a friendship bracelet station, as it gives people the opportunity to connect and become friends as they search for letter beads to accessorize their bracelets.
Trivia began shortly after, and fans went head-on in a 113-question-long battle of who knows Taylor Swift best. It was a fast-paced and engaging battle, and while I did not win, I was extremely impressed by the person who did. After an intensive battle, guests were encouraged to sit back and enjoy two marvelous performances from student organizations Gemini BLVD and Ballroom Knights.
Gemini BLVD, a competitive UCF a cappella group, performed a rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Lover” in all pink outfits to honor Swift’s album with the same namesake. I personally had never seen an a cappella performance before this, and I was so impressed by the layers their voices created. It was such a beautiful melody with satisfying texture and depth, plus it was a cover of one of my favorite songs.
Following the angelic a cappella piece, Ballroom Knights decided to bring the rhythm to the Cape Florida Ballroom with a dance performance of “Message In A Bottle (Taylor’s Version).” The dance was lively and fun, just like the song. The amount of passion and energy from the dancers brought a dazzling ambiance to the room, which makes me want to attend all of their performances.
Next on the agenda was a costume contest, which I happily participated in. I came dressed in a Midnights Era-inspired outfit, including a rainbow sparkly dress and purple fluffy jacket based on the one Swift wore for the “Lavender Haze performance” during The Eras Tour. I also wore a showgirl headpiece to honor the new album, whose release we were celebrating.
I was very excited and grateful to win the competition, as I admired my fellow competitors who wore a Speak Now-inspired ball gown, a “22” music video outfit, a clever Swift-inspired UCF jersey, along many other ones. Afterward, I took pictures with my friends in the photobooth with props and a 1989-inspired photo op before calling it a night.
Overall, I had a marvelous time participating in the games, contests, and Swiftie antics of the night. However, I do feel like some parts of the night felt a little awkward due to not a lot of people participating. To that, I say, I think more UCF students should be attending the phenomenal events put on by CAB so that we can bring more energy to the events. CAB puts a lot of care and intention into the events they put on, and it’s very clear to those who attend. I really enjoy the sense of community they create at their events, bringing people of similar cultures and interests together with a good time. So, I encourage anyone reading this to attend a CAB event besides UCFest and Pegasus Palooza and see how much fun you have.