Arguably, the gayest Fourth of July celebration takes place on Fire Island every year.
What’s more American than a boatload of daytime drag queens rolling up to a reception filled with speedo-clad revelers cheering them on? Welcome to the Invasion of the Pines!
The annual tradition began in 1976 when Cherry Grove (one of two gay communities on Fire Island) drag queen Terri Warren was refused service at the Blue Whale in the Pines. Hearing about the situation, Panzi, another Cherry Grove queen, rallied several pals in their finest drag, ordered a water taxi to the Pines, blessed the harbor and went on to enjoy cocktails at the nearby Botel. Instead of resistance, they were welcomed and a ritual was born!
Over the years, the event has grown more and more popular as a ferry filled with anywhere between 200-300 individuals decked out in (good and bad) drag make their way from Cherry Grove to the Pines where they are welcomed with a red carpet and a jam-packed crowd.
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This year marked the 51st anniversary and the queens arrived walking the Pink Tryst Carpet before the celebration continued with a pool party at the Tryst Pool Club with Violet Chachki behind the turntables.
The celebration continued the following day with a set by the most followed drag queen on Instagram, Brazilian baddie Pabllo Vittar.
Amid all the hazy, hot & humid drag, those not brave enough to wig out stayed cooled in their itty-bitty swimsuits by the pool.
Check out all the drag, bikinis, and festivities that made July 4th in Fire Island the gayest place in America.
All aboard!
DJ Violet Chachki
Pabllo Vittar arrives
Here are more pics from Fire Island revelers who posted to their Instagram …
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