Taylor-Gating: These Swift fans went all out in the parking lot before the show

Belmar native Rachel Smith — a fan of Taylor Swift since her debut in 2006 — started tailgating the Friday show at MetLife Stadium at 3 p.m., 3 1/2 hours before the stadium opens to audiences. Dressed in sequin flare pants and donning diamond cat ears, Smith went to the concert with a group of friends.

"They said it was gonna be crazy, so we had to get here early to really enjoy the experience," Smith said.

The Taylor Swift train has finally stopped in New Jersey for a weekend full of music and dancing, and diehard fans trying to make the most of their idol in town. The superstar's "Eras Tour" opened Friday night at MetLife, welcoming thousands of Swifties into the arena. Beyond the tall metal stadium walls, even more fans were waiting outside.

Both MetLife and New Jersey State police released an announcement urging those without a concert ticket to stay away from the stadium, lest they want to be kicked out or even banned from future events. Security was posted at every entrance, asking for tickets to get in.

Taylor tickets are infamously difficult to acquire, with prices in the thousands and presales selling out in seconds. However, Swifties remain undeterred in their mission for a Cruel Summer.

Fans brought coolers and grills to have a full-on barbecue. People danced to Taylor's songs from speakers and sang along to her greatest hits. Multiple groups brought beads and charms for friendship bracelets to be traded later. Entire families celebrated the tailgate together, from Swiftie dads to fans not even past middle school.

Before the superstar even graced the stage, Taylor mania reared its face at the Taylor Swift merch store on May 25. The typical display of football-themed jerseys was replaced with "Eras Tour" crewnecks, sweatshirts and posters for both concert goers and tailgaters. Fans started lining up at 10 p.m. the night before, and by the time the store opened there was already a queue of more than a hundred people.

Kara Ferrazzano from Bloomfield began tailgating around 4 p.m. with a couple of friends. She is a lifelong fan, listening to Taylor since her first release in 2006. This is her eighth Taylor Swift show, and she said she has never seen this level of mania before.

"I have never seen this level of tailgating, costumes, just the fervor around it has been overwhelming," said Ferrazzano.