Rain gives way to packed Supper Market opener in Crystal Beach

Jack Sutherland
June 27, 2026 at 10:02 PM

Rain clouds did not stop people from filling Crystal Beach Waterfront Park on Thursday as the Crystal Beach Supper Market opened its 2026 season with live music, food trucks and a local charity fundraiser.

Attendees arrived early while local Tragically Hip tribute band The Trip was still setting up on stage, with a brief sun shower before the show gave way to sunshine for the rest of the night.

John Genet, lead singer of The Trip, told Fort Erie Radio it was overwhelming to see people stay at the park despite rain threatening the event.

“We’ve got such a great little community here,” Genet said. “To see everybody come out here with the rain threatening and everything, it’s overwhelming. We are thrilled to be here.”

The Hip opened with ‘Grace, Too,’ ended the main show with ‘Ahead by a Century’ and closed its encore with ‘Nautical Disaster.’ Credit: Jack Sutherland | Fort Erie Radio

Dan Strugar, event manager and a member of the Ridgeway-Crystal Beach Kin Club, told Fort Erie Radio he had been watching the forecast closely in the days leading up to opening night.

“During the day, I was quite nervous, but at the same time, looking at the weather forecast, I wasn’t giving up,” Strugar said. “There was no way I was cancelling with that forecast.”

Strugar said the community showed up “en masse” Thursday night.

“I was absolutely blown away by the crowd tonight,” he said. “Full picnic tables, full lawn.”

The ice cream truck was among the busiest food stops during The Trip’s set. Credit: Jack Sutherland | Fort Erie Radio

Strugar previously told Fort Erie Radio the Kin Club selects a different local charity to support each week, with 100 per cent of bar profits going back into the community.

Food4Kids Niagara was selected as the first charity of the week.

Strugar said the charity works with school boards and local schools to support children who may otherwise go without food over the weekend.

“Those kids always find a little something in their backpack,” Strugar said. “That’s what community is all about. And that’s what this charity of the week is all about.”

According to Food4Kids Niagara, the organization provides packages of healthy food to elementary school students with little or no access to food during weekends and summer months.