An early start, Aaron Dessner and other highlights from Taylor Swift's 2nd Cincinnati show

Taylor Swift asked Cincinnati "are you ready for it?" Saturday and concertgoers overwhelmingly said "yes."

Swift moved up her stage entrance by an hour to avoid inclement weather in the forecast. Thousands packed Paycor Stadium at a quicker pace than on Friday.

Rain had been forecast all week; some fans were even hoping for a repeat of the Nashville concert where Swift performed in the rain.

But the weather held off and fans were treated to a memorable show.

Here are five highlights from Saturday's concert:

Second Cincinnati show started an hour earlier

With less time to get to seats, lines for food, merchandise and bathrooms were longer than the first night, two-night attendees told me. But the lines were almost enjoyable, with people trading friendship bracelets, talking about past shows and sharing information about what merch or food was still available so people didn't have to wait in line for nothing. The Swiftie community is a nice one.

Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams' opening act was scrapped and the second opener, Muna, played a shortened set. Swift graciously welcomed her audience, joking the “weather is still somehow out of my control."

The earlier time had one noticeable impact: Swift's performance of "Marjorie," a tribute to her late grandmother, was no less emotional, but the effect of thousands holding their phone flashlights in the air was diminished because it was still daylight.

Taylor Swift performed three surprise songs

Swift keeps a fairly consistent set list for her Eras Tour concerts, which span 17 years of the artist's music. Considering the production level – elaborate sets, cinematic choreography and frequent outfit changes – it makes sense.

About 2 ½ hours in, she strips it down and plays two acoustic songs that won't be repeated at other shows, the "surprise songs." Cincinnati concert-going Swifties followed set lists for months leading up to this weekend's shows, either relieved or disappointed that a certain song was played and wouldn't be featured at their concert.

Saturday night's audience was treated to not two songs but three: "Ivy," from the "Evermore" album; a performance of Gracie Abrams' "I Miss You, I'm Sorry," with Abrams; and "Call It What You Want," from "Reputation."

Aaron Dessner, of The National, made an appearance

Fans wondered going into the weekend whether Aaron Dessner, co-founder and guitarist of rock band The National, would make an appearance. The Cincinnati native and Swift have written songs together and he's appeared on Eras Tour stops in Tampa, Nashville and Pittsburgh.

He didn't play during Friday night's show but was spotted walking around the stadium on Saturday.

Dessner's introduction for the first surprise song prompted some of the loudest cheers of the night, measuring 120 decibels on my smartwatch.

"I, in recent years, met a collaborator I really like ... ," Swift said, with the crowd drowning out part of her introduction. "It's the craziest, most wonderful thing that he came into my life. He happens to be from Cincinnati, Ohio."

The two performed "Ivy," a track from Swift's ninth studio album that they wrote with musician Jack Antonoff.

The second concert was just as good as the first

I had seen some of Friday night's concert on the stadium big screen from outside Paycor Stadium, and read a lot of Enquirer coverage this week, so the set list, costume changes and other details weren't a mystery to me. And yet, Swift found ways to make the concert new and different for fans who had seen other shows, including outfits and set design.

Night one: Our 5 favorite moments from Taylor Swift's Friday show in Cincinnati

The people sitting in front of us had been to two other shows on the tour and said sitting in different areas each time made the show like new. The stage extends into the floor seating area, but some aspects, such as when Swift "dives" into the stage and the stage projects an image of her swimming underneath, are best viewed from seats in the upper deck.

Everyone was treated to a sweet moment during the song "Lover" when a heart-shaped balloon floated from the floor and out of the stadium.

Swift covered a lot of ground

Tickets for The Eras Tour are in high demand in part because it's been five years and four albums since Swift's last tour. She's garnered new fans in that time (counting myself). Saturday's concert gave a lot of play to those albums while incorporating favorites from earlier in her career, one album at a time.

The result: A nearly 3 ½-hour tour through Swift's evolution as an artist and an individual. That it's not done chronologically and still feels cohesive is a testament to her ability as a performer.

Minutes after shout-singing along to "My Tears Ricochet" – a choral-rock ballad released during the peak of the pandemic – concertgoers were dancing to the 2014 pop hit "Shake It Off," released in 2014.

The Eras Tour is a singalong, dance party, confessional that overflowed into the streets and grassy areas surrounding Paycor Stadium, with thousands watching and singing in unison. Toward the end of Saturday's show, barriers were moved and people rushed to the stadium doors to get a glimpse of Swift during the final song, "Karma."

The crush of fans made for a long exit, but I've never seen people so happy to be stuck in a crowd.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top moments Saturday from Taylor Swift in Cincinnati at Paycor Stadium