Fireworks All Over Fire Island Pines July 4th Weekend

"Fire Island Pines. Three words for paradise." So wrote Alan Helms in "Young Man from the Provinces," a memoir of a hot guy who moves to New York and joins the A List in the 1950s. Well, nothing has changed. Fire Island is still paradise for those who want to forget their troubles and have a good time. And no time is that more true than July 4th Weekend.

This weekend, look forward to great music, because, above all, it's all about the music. Low Tea will see two legendary DJs spinning, Warren Gluck (Friday, July 1) and Susan Morabito (Sunday, July 3) at the Blue Whale. On Friday, you watch "Cher: The Farewell Tour" at 8:30 at the pool deck in back of Ciel. As if it couldn't get any gayer than that, check out Shequida's drag act at the Blue Whale at 11 p.m.

One of my fave DJs, Twisted Dee, takes over the Pavilion Friday night. Paulo, who killed last year at the Black Party and at the Pavilion the night of the Ascension Party, returns on July 3. Speaking of legends, on Monday, July 4, none other than Junior Vasquez will be at the Pavilion.

The party of the weekend promises to be Independance, at Reflections, one of the Pines' most beautiful properties. Overlooking Great South Bay, with the pool decked over for dancing and Tracy Young spinning, this promises to be another notch in this longest-running party's dance belt.

At the Sip 'N' Twirl, you can catch local gal Lina, who will bring her signature soulful grooves at her early-evening gigs.

There's much more going on this weekend, including the Invasion, the Fourth of July invasion of drag queens from Cherry Grove that has been an annual event since 1976 and attracts people from all over the island and mainland. If you want to learn more about this event, which has become a part of gay history, come to the Blue Whale for a panel discussion that includes Panzi, who started the whole thing, Sunday at 3 p.m.

Here's a complete schedule of what's happening at the Pavilion and the various Teas. For more information, go to the website.

Friday, July 1st
- LOW TEA w/ DJ Warren Gluck at 5pm at the Blue Whale
- HIGH TEA w/ DJ Chris Camuso at 7pm on the High Tea Deck
- DIVE-IN MOVIES - "Cher: The Farewell Tour" at 8:30pm on the Pool Deck. Free.
- BLUE WHALE AFTER DARK - Drag favorite Shequida performs at the Blue whale. 11pm. Free.
- FLESHDANCE FRIDAYS at the Pavilion. From 11am-1am there will be stripteases and lap dances. From 1am-3am is the underwear party portion. DJ Twisted Doe.

Saturday, July 2nd
- INTENSATI fitness class in Pavilion (tickets sold at The Rack). 10:30am.
- BOOZY BRUNCH. Brunch with drag host Bianca Del Rio. 12:30pm at the Blue Whale or 2:30pm on the Pool Deck. $25 for all you can drink.
- POOL TEA w/ DJ Steve Sidewalk on the Pool Deck. 1pm-5pm.
- BOARDWALK TALK - Architect and writer Chris Rawlins discusses the creation of Fire Island Style. 3pm. Free.
- LOW TEA w/ DJ Chris Camuso at 5pm at the Blue Whale
- HIGH TEA w/ DJ John Marto at 7pm on the High Tea Deck
- MIDDLE TEA w/ DJ Vito Fun at 8pm at Pavilion
- DIVE-IN MOVIES - "Madonna: Sticky & Sweet" at 8:30pm on the Pool Deck. Free.
- BLUE WHALE AFTER DARK - Drag favorite Peppermint performs at the Blue whale. 11pm. Free.
- DJ HECTOR FONSECA spins at the Pavilion. 11:30pm.

Sunday, July 3rd
- BOOZY BRUNCH. Brunch with drag host Bianca Del Rio. 12:30pm at the Blue Whale or 2:30pm on the Pool Deck. $25 for all you can drink.
- POOL TEA w/ DJ Steve Sidewalk on the Pool Deck. 1pm-5pm.
- POOL PARTY w/ DJ Xavier. 5pm-10pm.
- LOW TEA w/ DJ Susan Morabito at 5pm at the Blue Whale
- HIGH TEA w/ DJ Steve Sidewalk at 7pm on the High Tea Deck
- MIDDLE TEA w/ DJ Vito Fun at 8pm at Pavilion
- DIVE-IN MOVIES - "Half Share" and "Christina Aguilera: Back to Basics" at 8:30pm on the Pool Deck. Free.
- CLAMBAKE at the Blue Whale. 9pm.
- SHOWTUNE SUNDAY w/ VJ Tony Built at the Blue whale. 10pm. Free.
- DJ PAULO spins at the Pavilion. 11:30pm.

Monday, July 4th
- INVASION w/ DJ Xavier on the High Tea Deck. 12pm-10pm.
- DJ STEVE SIDEWALK at Pavilion. 12pm-6pm
- POOL PARTY w/ Bianca Del Rio & Shequida w/ DJ Chris Camuso. 12pm-6pm.
- LOW TEA w/ DJ James Anderson at 5pm at the Blue Whale
- DJ GABE MANZON on the Pool Deck from 6pm-10pm.
- HIGH TEA w/ DJ Xavier at 7pm on the High Tea Deck
- MIDDLE TEA w/ DJ Chris Camuso at 8pm at Pavilion
- DIVE-IN MOVIES - "Britney Spears: Live from Las Vegas" at 8:30pm on the Pool Deck. Free.
- MANIC MONDAYS w/ Logan Hardcore at the Blue Whale. 10pm. Free.
- DJ JUNIOR VASQUEZ spins at the Pavilion. 10pm.