BY: DM
Published 4 months ago
If you weren’t serving looks, duck-walking onto a dock, or chugging mimosas at noon, where were you on the Fourth of July? The annual Invasion of the Pines popped off again, giving queers, queens, and curious first-timers a full-on festival. Now a Fire Island staple, the event actually began with shade.
In the summer of 1976, Cherry Grove drag queen Terry Warren sailed by water taxi to the nearby Pines Harbor after being refused service at a Pines restaurant for wearing drag, according to Invasion of Fire Island. Led by Cherry Grove’s fledgling Homecoming Queen, Thom Hansen (aka Panzi), Warren and eight friends stormed the dock, sang “God Bless America,” and formally “blessed” the harbor in protest. That single group of drag performers launched what we now know as the Invasion of the Pines.
This year’s event, as always, went down in Fire Island Pines — a bougie, beachside stretch of land that turns all the way up when the queens arrive by ferry from Cherry Grove. The Invasion is part Pride parade, part costume runway, and endless drag shows.
Here is a look at what happened at the 2025 event and what’s planned for next year.
Invasion of the Pines 2025 was bigger and better than ever.
At noon, the Ice Palace Bar in Cherry Grove was already buzzing. Hundreds of performers arrived, decked in feathers, sequins, and towering wigs. They marched through the Grove before boarding chartered ferries bound for the Pines. By 2 p.m., the first boatload of drag divas glided into the harbor under the roar of hundreds of spectators, each queen announced by legendary Grand Marshal Panzi from a temporary stage on the dock.
This year’s event was bigger than ever, thanks to a partnership between Tryst Hospitality and the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association. Guests enjoyed nonstop drag numbers, surprise pop-up performances, and Instagram-ready photo ops across The Waterfront at The Pines — including The Pavilion, The Blue Whale, The Canteen, and The Tryst Pool Deck.
After the dock walk, the energy turned all the way up. Low Tea at The Blue Whale started at 5 p.m., followed by High Tea at The Pavilion at 7 p.m., and the late-night “Ty Tea” takeover at 10 p.m. The night ended with a 9:30 p.m. fireworks display over the bay, GlobeNewsWire reports.
The event will grow even more in 2026.
In 2026, the Invasion of the Pines is set to up the ante even further. What started as a one-day protest-turned-party will become a five-day queer takeover of Fire Island Pines. According to GayTravel4u, events will kick off on Friday, July 3. Dozens of feathered and sequined performers will gather at the Ice Palace Bar in Cherry Grove for a beachside “Welcome to the Pines” mixer. The event will feature mini drag acts and sunrise mocktails to set the tone for the weekend.
On Saturday, July 4, the focus will return to the iconic dock walk. The day kicks off with a high-energy pre-show dance production at 12:30 p.m., then queens strut down Cherry Grove’s main street before boarding chartered ferries to Pines Harbor.
Ever been to the Invasion of the Pines? Drop your wildest memory below!
