Provincetown
Theme Weeks & Events

APRIL 2018

Gays for Patsy
Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29
An annual spring hoedown featuring dancing, workshops, and lots of socializing.

MAY 2018

Twenty Summers
Friday, May 18 – Saturday, June 16
Twenty Summers fosters public engagement with art and artists. It restored the historic Hawthorne Barn where that legacy began and where its festival of concerts, conversations, artists residencies, and special events take place.

Single Women’s Weekend
Friday, May 18 – Sunday, May 20
An opportunity for lesbians to connect, perchance to eventually marry! Meet- and-greets, speed dating, shows, and other events.

Memorial Day Women’s Weekend
Thursday, May 24 – Monday, May 28
Also known as “baby dyke weekend” for the attracted demographic, there are myriad parties, along with boating, dancing, pool parties, and drinking. A lot of drinking.

Provincetown Women of Color & Friends Weekend
Thursday, May 31 – Sunday, June 3
The weekend includes five workshops, dances, parties, a talent show, and lots of pizza and fun.

JUNE 2018

Provincetown Cabaret Festival
Wednesday, May 30 – Sunday, June 3
Four days and three nights of music, cabaret, workshops, networking, and fun.

International Encaustic Conference
Friday, June 1 – Sunday, June 3
An annual interdisciplinary event in Provincetown, MA, bringing a community of artists together with gallerists, curators, critics and collectors engaged with wax, printmaking, mixed media, professional practices, and more.

Provincetown Film Festival
Wednesday, June 13 – Sunday, June 17
One of the country’s preeminent film festivals presents a diverse array of American and international narrative features, documentaries and short films.

Portuguese Festival
Thursday, June 21 – Sunday, June 24
A week-long celebration of Ptown’s Portuguese heritage and vibrant community that culminates in the Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday. Come watch all the boats as they show off their finery!

Provincetown Dance Festival
Friday, June 22 – Saturday, June 23
Performers range from tap to ballet, to contemporary, hip-hop and classical Indian dance.

JULY 2018

July 4th
Wednesday, July 4
The town puts on a reworks show (~8:45pm over Provincetown Harbor) and a Parade (~11am) to celebrate the 4th of July.

Independence Week
Friday, June 29 – Friday, July 6
This is party-week central in Ptown, alternately referred to as circuit-boy week, twink week, or pretty-boy week; you get the picture. A young, energetic crowd.

Bear Week
Saturday, July 7 – Sunday, July 15
The largest bear event in the world, with Ptown overrun by hair, leather, and large men. Restaurants love the bears!

Girl Splash
Tuesday, July 17 – Saturday, July 21
Concerts, comediennes, parties, dancing and more for the summer women’s festival. Buy your tickets early, as events sell out quickly!

Family Week
Sunday, July 29 – Saturday, August 4
The largest annual gathering in the world of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified parents and their families. Sponsored by the Family Equality Council, this fun-filled week will include more opportunities than ever to build community. All families are welcome!

Whale Week
Sunday, July 29 – Saturday, August 4
Sponsored by the Center for Coastal Studies, this is a week filled with educational activities and opportunities for everyone.

AUGUST 2018

Carnival
Saturday, August 11 – Friday, August 17
This year’s theme for the busiest week of the season will be Mardi Gras By The Sea. This event is a huge celebration that takes over the town ending in a colorful, spectacular parade.

SEPTEMBER 2018

White Party
Saturday, September 1
Starting out in 1981 as a private cocktail party and croquet tournament, the White Party has evolved into a popular fundraiser for the Outer Cape Health Services.

The Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta
Monday, September 3 – Thursday, September 6
A celebration of the role of the Great Atlantic fishing bank schooner in Provincetown’s maritime history, while providing educational opportunities for residents and visitors to experience these historic vessels both in port and at sea through a series of races.

31st Annual Swim for Life and Celebration of Life Concert
Friday, September 7 – Saturday, September 8
When people gather with passion and vision great things are accomplished. For three decades, in one of the largest natural harbors in the world, thousands of swimmers braved its unpredictable waters − its chilly currents, surging tides, and their deep fears − raising $4M for AIDS, women’s health and the community.

Afterglow Festival
Monday, September 10 – Saturday, September 15
A gathering to Provincetown of both renowned and under-the-radar innovative stage artists evolving the world of live performance today.

Gay Pilots Cape Cod Classic Weekend
Thursday, September 13 – Sunday, September 16
Sponsored by the nationwide gay and lesbian pilots’ association.

Provincetown Book Festival
Friday, September 14 – Saturday, September 15
Speakers, book readings, meet-the-author opportunities and more.

Provincetown Invitational Antique Car Show & Parade
Friday, September 14 – Sunday, September 16
The Yankee Lambda Car Club is in town with the coolest cars ever! Event includes car show, parade through town, banquet and awards, and a tour of Heritage Museum car collection (Sandwich).

Pet Appreciation Weekend
Friday, September 21 – Sunday, September 23
A pet parade, dog show, and other activities all to bene t the Carrie A. Seamen Animal Shelter

Tennessee Williams Festival
Thursday, September 27 – Sunday, September 30
The festival honors Tennessee Williams by presenting his classic and undiscovered plays, the work of his peers, and new work inspired by Williams’ creative vision worldwide.

Mates Leather Weekend
Thursday, September 27 – Monday, October 1
A weekend of fun and frolic for men who like leather, rubber, and uniforms, but that also has a serious side: raising serious money for the AIDS Support Group.

Provincetown Dance Trophy
Saturday, September 29
Ballroom dance competition open to same-sex couples, reverse role couples, and mainstream (traditional) couples. Come and watch even if you don’t compete!

OCTOBER 2018

Inspiration Weekend Provincetown
Friday, October 5 – Sunday, October 7
This is a weekend about self-reflection and spiritual development with the assistance of music, lyrics, and spoken word.

Women’s Week
Monday, October 8 – Sunday, October 14
This is a celebration of women hosted by women (the Women Innkeepers of Provincetown to be exact) with more than 150 diverse events.

Wellfleet Oyster Festival
Saturday, October 13 – Sunday, October 14
Not technically in Provincetown, the Wellfleet Oysterfest is an annual celebration of local fishing traditions and delicious food.

Fantasia Fair
Sunday, October 14 – Sunday, October 21
This event is the longest standing transgender event. It is part-conference and part social gathering with a fashion show, banquets, and lots of speakers.

Provincetown Roundup
Wednesday, October 17 – Sunday, October 21
This even focuses on recovery and service among the LGBTQA+ community. It features five days of 12 step programs and activities.

Halloween
Friday, October 26 – Friday, November 2
In true Provincetown fashion, we go all-out for Halloween. There are dances, parties, a haunted house, and much more.

Spooky Bear Weekend
Friday, October 26 – Sunday, October 28
As part of the Halloween extravaganza, don’t forget about Spooky Bear weekend!

NOVEMBER 2018

Day of Dead Festival
Wednesday, October 24 – Friday, November 2 (Day of the Dead, November 2)
This is a relatively new annual event honoring life and death with art, a procession, and more. Take a workshop and make your own offrande!

Provincetown Men’s Weekend
Friday, November 9 – Sunday, November 11
This weekend brings all men together in Ptown, regardless of relationship status, with lots of parties and dances.

Mr New England Leather Weekend
Friday, November 16 – Sunday, November 18
A regional section of the International Mister Leather competition to be held in Chicago.

Pilgrim Monument Lighting
Wednesday, November 21
Every year the distinctive Pilgrim Monument is beautifully lit to commemorate the Pilgrim’s first landing in the New World. There are speeches, entertainment, food, and more; everyone comes to it!

Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 22
Many restaurants will open their doors on Thanksgiving to present a hot, delicious meal (often with a special Provincetown twist)for this holiday.

Lobster Pot Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 24
To really welcome in the holiday season, we light the lobster pot Christmas tree in a special ceremony at Lopes Square.

DECEMBER 2018

Holly Folly
Friday, November 29 – Sunday, December 2
Holly Folly is a weekend of shopping, partying, and revelry! Come get all your Christmas shopping done, sample soups at a special bene t lunch, and enjoy Provincetown in the offseason!