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So how is Gordon Lightfoot spending his 80th birthday?

Up on stage and with his fans of course — 3,000 strong Friday night in Oshawa.

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“I can’t think of any better way to celebrate,” he said Friday in his dressing room at the Tribute Communities Centre. “It’s perfect.”

It will be extra special Saturday night at the Opera House in Orillia where the legendary singer/songwriter will bring in number 80 where it all began.

“It sure brings back a lot of memories,” he said.

His beloved wife Kim said there is no question “it will be very emotional for him — as was this whole year of shows.”

Lightfoot says this whole weekend — Thursday in Hamilton, Friday in Oshawa, Saturday in Orillia and Sunday at the National Art’s Centre in Ottawa — has been as fun a Canadian experience as this Canadian icon could ever ask for.

He works hard at it too. He gets to the venue every day at 1 p.m., tunes his guitars for an hour before getting up on stage for sound check with his bandmates.