Protesters were assembling in the streets outside of the National Press Club, the drumming and chanting eventually morphing into chaotic clashes with police and attendees of the pro-Trump Deploraball. Inside the glass-enclosed Arena Stage two miles away, though, several hundred people opted instead to join fellow fans of President Barack Obama and offer up a collectively thank you on his last night in office.

“I think Obama has been an incredible example of class, wisdom, intelligence. He showed a real commitment to the American people. It’s taken incredible strength,” said Sandi Ashley, who flew in from Montana to attend the Women’s March with her daughter. “I wanted to honor him and thank him.”

Bejidé Davis had originally planned to stand outside of the White House with a few friends and offer up applause—flipping the Thanks Obama meme into a very genuine, real-life event. When tens of thousands of people indicated they wanted to join in, she and her former college roommate, Amanda Washington Lockett, committed to making it a reality.

After wading into the logistics minefield of inauguration week, they eventually landed at Arena Stage, with a line-up of DJs, a Hawaiian dance troupe, and other performers.

People left notes on posters tacked up on a wall, the hand-written missives quickly filling in the space. “Thank you for bringing decency to the White House,” read one. “Thank you for forever changing my life as a young black man!” exclaimed another. “We were blessed for eight years,” said a third.

“He represents hope and positive change,” said Laurie Ashley, after helping her five-year-old daughter affix her own note to the wall. “We elected that two times in a row. It still means a lot.”

Still, the specter of the incoming administration was hard to escape, and the event didn’t manage to muster up anything close to the energy of the inaugural celebrations in 2013 or 2009.

“We’re partying like its Obama’s last night,” shouted the emcee to a scattered dance floor at one point. “Who remembers Y2K? We thought the world was going to end.”

“We’re trying to remain hopeful,” said D.C. resident Harold Chacón, who is planning to skip town tomorrow and visit some wineries before returning on Saturday for the march. “It’s nice to celebrate, to keep up hope.”

Other party-goers said they were just looking for a way to express their gratitude before grimacing through today’s inauguration. “I really appreciate all he did,” said Andressa Souza, a Maryland resident who drives part-time for Uber, but will stay at home tomorrow. “I felt I needed to find a way to say thanks.”

She and more than 500 people got their chance at 7 p.m., cheering collectively for two-and-a-half minutes for the still-president.

As the party began to break up, a street vendor outside could be found doing brisk sales of 2017 calendars and tote bags, the Obama family’s smiles beaming back at each person who picked one up.

Thanks Obama clapout from DCist on Vimeo.