Here's how Islanders celebrated the Hip: Dancing, laughter, tears
Brian Higgins | CBC News | Posted: August 22, 2016 6:00 PM | Last Updated: August 22, 2016
Thousands gather on Summerside, Charlottetown waterfront
As the third encore ended, some Prince Edward Islanders shed tears and shared hugs as Canadians watched the live broadcast of the Tragically Hip concert.
"It's good to see all the locals getting together. Everybody's loving it," said Quinn Bartlett, one of what city police estimated was more than 5,000 fans who gathered in Charlottetown's Victoria Park.
People openly wept and embraced when the concert ended around 12:30 a.m. Throughout the evening, they had danced and sung along with the lyrics that are familiar to millions of Hip fans across Canada.
"I grew up with this band," said one woman, wiping tears from her eyes. "This music means so much."
Summerside city officials estimated close to 3,000 people gathered at Greenshore, where two screens had been set up for watching the live broadcast, commercial-free on CBC-TV, from Kingston, Ont. The Summerside event also included a licensed area. Proceeds and donations, from all concert locations, were donated to Sunnybrook Hospital's Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research.
Charlottetown police had to move the crowd back in Victoria Park for safety reasons, after people climbed a security fence and began dancing in the restricted area below the big screen. Fans complied with the request and the area was cleared without incident.
A nearly full moon and waterfront views provided a picturesque backdrop in both cities, as Hip fans enjoyed the show amid warm evening temperatures and a light breeze.
"It was perfect," said one fan, "What a show. Awesome."
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