TL;DR
- Fire Island Pines celebrates 60 years of Tea Dance.
- Kickoff events start May 8, 2026.
- Expect drag brunches, pool parties, and more.
- New events include Middle Tea and Playback Thursdays.
- Fourth of July weekend features star performances.
Summer is just around the corner, and you know what that means: the fabulous Fire Island Pines is gearing up for a milestone celebration that’s hotter than a summer day! This year marks 60 glorious years of the iconic Tea Dance, a beloved ritual that has shaped queer nightlife into the vibrant scene we adore today. Get ready, because Tryst Hospitality has a lineup of events that will have the queens and kings of the Pines strutting their stuff like never before!
Starting May 8, The Waterfront will roll out its seasonal programming, with every corner of this LGBTQ+ haven buzzing with excitement by May 15. From The Blue Whale to The Pavilion and The Tryst Pool Club, the party will kick off with everything from midday mingles to late-night shenanigans. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s brewing:
- Low Tea: The Blue Whale, Daily, 4 PM – 8 PM
- Dinner: The Blue Whale, Nightly, 8 PM (make those reservations on OpenTable!)
- High Tea: Pavilion, Daily, 7 PM – 10 PM
- Pool Service: The Tryst Pool Club, Daily, 11 AM – 6 PM
- Pool Parties: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, 2 PM – 6 PM
- Drag Brunch: Saturdays and Sundays, 12 PM (reserve your spot!)
- Showtunes with Bubbles & Mike Borowski: Sundays, 10 PM
- Pixie Aventura Show: Mondays, 10 PM (don’t forget to reserve!)
- Party around the Piano with Lance Horne: Fridays, 9 PM
- Drag Bingo with Bubbles D’Boob: Wednesdays, 8 PM
Once mid-May hits, the Pines will fall into its familiar groove. Afternoons will kick off with Low Tea, where cocktails and conversation flow as freely as the ocean breeze. Evenings will build to High Tea at the Pavilion, followed by dance floors that won’t cool off until sunrise. And let’s not forget the weekends—where drag brunch anchors the daytime crowd, and pool parties take over by mid-afternoon. Sundays will lean theatrical with showtunes and live performances, offering a fabulous release before the week resets.
This season isn’t just about keeping the party alive; it’s about elevating it! Expect new twists on classic events, like Middle Tea, a late-afternoon takeover at the pool that promises to add even more flair to an already packed schedule. Playback Thursdays will turn the Pavilion into a pop paradise, while weekends will feature party brands that are sure to draw in dedicated followers. The pool scene will also get a refresh with rotating themes and hosts, keeping things playful and unhinged—just how we like it!
And for those who love to party but hate the long trek down the boardwalk? Say hello to a fleet of bright pink golf carts that will whisk guests and deliveries across the Pines. Because darling, who has time for long walks when there’s fun to be had?
Mark your calendars for the Fourth of July weekend, the centerpiece of the season, featuring the long-running Invasion of the Pines. This annual spectacle blends performance, protest roots, and celebration, and this year promises even more star power with appearances from the likes of Violet Chachki and Pabllo Vittar. Get ready for a lineup that’s as fabulous as it is fierce!
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At the heart of it all is the Tea Dance, which began in the 1960s as a safe gathering space for queer folks. What started as a workaround has blossomed into a global tradition, and Fire Island Pines still holds onto that original pulse. This season, that history isn’t just a footnote; it’s woven into the very fabric of the experience. Every beat, every crowd, every late-afternoon dance floor traces back to that origin point, with better sound systems and fewer restrictions.
As for the soundtrack of summer? Expect a mix of familiar names and fresh energy, with resident DJs like Mike Borowski and Lina Bradford returning alongside a rotating lineup from Tryst’s venues across the country. It’s all about maintaining a flow that keeps you dancing until the sun comes up.
With the party infrastructure fully operational, there’s still one piece of the Pines’ future in the works: the Tryst Fire Island hotel is currently navigating approvals, but updates are promised. In the meantime, smaller improvements like refreshed interiors and expanded amenities will keep the Waterfront evolving without losing its edge.
For returning visitors, 2026 offers a bigger version of what they already love. For newcomers, it’s a crash course in why the Pines has remained a defining queer destination for decades. So get ready, because once the first ferry docks, the pace will pick up fast, and it won’t slow down until the last call!