Pigeon Impersonation Pageant ……ONLY in NY

When gay peeps head for their dressing-up box, then probably 9 out of 10 will emerge as a drag queen  (that Ru-Paul has a lot to answer for).  Now it seems like ‘heteros’ in New York have developed their own version of drag as they are getting in line to dress up as PIGEONS.  Yes, you did read that right, I said pigeons..

This summer, on the High Line in N Y, there will  be  a full-blown pigeon party at  Pigeon Fest: a free, all-day festival celebrating National Pigeon Appreciation Day. Visitors will be treated to a full-day of free public programming where these feathered creatures are the star, including pigeon-themed carnival games, family-friendly art workshops, a concert presented in collaboration with the Birdsong Project, a Discovery Fair, and more.

During Pigeon Fest visitors will be treated to a full day of free public programming where these feathered creatures are the star, including pigeon-themed carnival games, family-friendly art workshops, a concert presented in collaboration with the Birdsong Project, a Discovery Fair, and more.

However the highlght  is the Pigeon Impersonation Pageant! To enter you need to preen your feathers, forage for food, and let out your best “cooo” because NYC is looking for the city’s best pigeon impersonator. Hosted by legendary costume designer and NYC icon, Machine Dazzle, contestants will be judged on plumage (costume), strut, and sound by a panel of experts.

The organisers told Queerguru the event isn’t just about having a laugh and forging friendships with our pigeon neighbors. There will also be educational portions of the festival, with more than a dozen organizations engaged in work around birds, urban wildlife, migration, and monuments sharing information about their work, hosting demonstrations, and presenting hands-on educational activities.

• 12pm – Zumba: Pigeon Dance Party | strut your stuff during a high-energy Zumba dance class next to Dinosaur
• 1pm – Mother Pigeon’s Impeckable Puppet Show | based on the real-life adventures of Mother Pigeon, famed Union Square artist and advocate for all city wildlife
• 2pm – Pigeon Impersonation Pageant | compete for the title of NYC’s Best Pigeon Impersonator
• 3:30pm – Panel Discussion: Building Bird-friendly Cities | a lively conversation with experts working at the intersection of policy, ecology, and urban design
• 4:15pm – Artist Talk with Iván Argote & Cecilia Alemani | a conversation on the making of Dinosaur and the role public art plays in city life and civic memory
• 5:30-8pm – Musical Concert, Curated in Collaboration with the Birdsong Project | a vibrant outdoor concert on the Dinosaur Stage