Here's how Islanders celebrated the Hip: Dancing, laughter, tears

Thousands gather on Summerside, Charlottetown waterfront

Image | Tragically Hip telecast, Charlottetown, August 20, 2016

Caption: More than 5,000 people gathered in Victoria Park, Charlottetown, to watch a live telecast of the Tragically Hip from Kingston, Ont.. (Brian Higgins/CBC)

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.

Image | Tragically Hip telecast, Charlottetown, August 20, 2016

Caption: "I grew up with this band," said one fan. "This music means so much to me." (Brian Higgins/CBC)

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."

Image | Tragically Hip telecast, Charlottetown, August 20, 2016

Caption: For safety reasons, police had to keep crowds back from the big screen. (Brian Higgins/CBC)

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(external link), from all concert locations, were donated to Sunnybrook Hospital's Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research.

Image | Cancer society volunteers, Tragically Hip telecast, Summerside

Caption: Volunteers collected donations for The Gord Downie Fund For Brain Cancer Research. (Brian Higgins)

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.

Image | Tragically Hip telecast, Summerside, August 20, 2016

Caption: The telecast in Summerside featured two screens and a licensed area. (City of Summerside)

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."