Now in its 14th year, Pines Party
on Fire Island has mixed revelry, fantasy and
fundraising at an annual night-long celebration of dancing and
entertainment on the Fire Island beach that has grown into a world-famous
destination. Part of a legacy that stands on the shoulders of
Beach '79 and 16 Morning Parties, Pines Party has returned
millions of dollars to the Charitable Foundation and is the
red-letter day of the summer tourist season. Pines Party is the premier event
of the season and has become a beloved Fire Island and
Gay New York tradition. More after the
Jump:
Pines Party
2012, Fire Island
City Guide Columns
Experience delicious dining at
The Blue Whale.
Enjoy beautiful dishes prepared with
organic and local produce as well as
free-range and high-quality meat and
fish.
While all of Fire Island may
have an official year-round
population of 310, the summer
population swells to much higher
levels especially on weekends.
In the Pines, the large houses
are filled with summer shares
and a 4 bedroom house can easily
contain 8 people at a time. The
population is primarily gay men
20–50 years old. It is
affectionately referred to as
"Chelsea with sand." (Chelsea is
one of Manhattan's gay
neighborhoods.)
Two of the Pines's most famous
events are the Pines Party, an
all-night dance party held each
July on the beach, and the
Invasion of the Pines, a
drag-queen parade held each year
on July 4, commemorating the
time when Whyte refused service
to a drag queen. After
promenading through the Pines,
the drag queens from Cherry
Grove proclaim victory and
return to Cherry Grove.
The forest between it and Cherry
Grove has been nicknamed the
"meat rack" because of sexual
liaisons occurring at all hours
in it, with the Village People
in the anthem entitled "Fire
Island" warning "Don't go in the
bushes, someone might grab ya".
The Meat Rack is even celebrated
each year with a "Mr. Meatrack"
contest at the Ice Palace.
After its reputation was ruined
by AIDS-related fatalities among
its regulars in the late 1980s
and early 1990s, Gay Men's
Health Crisis began hosting the
Morning Party fundraiser on the
beach. The party evolved into a
major Circuit Party and was
GMHC's biggest fundraising
event. After GMHC stopped
sponsoring the event, the party
continued under the name of the
Pines Party which is held on the
last weekend of July. Proceeds
go to organizations like
the Stonewall Community
Foundation (which uses the money
to help those with HIV) and the
Fire Island Pines Property
Owners Association Charitable
Foundation (which uses the funds
to make improvements to the
common areas).
