The Invasion of the Pines is an annual LGBTQ+ tradition on Fire Island, New York, centered on the community of Fire Island Pines. Each July 4th, drag queens and other performers from nearby Cherry Grove travel by ferry to the Pines in elaborate costumes and take over the community for an afternoon of celebration.The tradition began in 1976, when a drag queen named Tinkerbell was reportedly refused service at the Blue Whale restaurant in the Pines. In response, a group of drag queens from Cherry Grove arrived by ferry the following day, dressed in extravagant outfits, and staged a playful “invasion.” What began as a protest and act of solidarity became an annual celebration.Today, the Invasion is one of Fire Island's best-known LGBTQ+ traditions. The queens arrive by ferry, parade through the Pines, and are greeted by crowds before the festivities continue. The event combines drag, humor, community, performance, and LGBTQ+ history, while also reflecting the long-standing relationship between the neighboring communities of Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines.