Provincetown – A Year Filled With Signature Events, Theme Weeks, and Experiences For All Facets of the Queer Community
PROVINCETOWN, Mass.– Provincetown welcomes travelers from across the globe to discover why Ptown is the world’s premier LGBTQ+ travel destination. Legacy queer events and theme weeks and weekends produced by (or in partnership with) the Provincetown Business Guild, like Provincetown Pride, Bear Week, Carnival, Holly Folly, and First Light, are joined by art, film, and theatre events, wellness and family-focused getaways, and music, food, and wine festivals.
Renowned annual events will celebrate historic anniversaries in 2024, including the 40th year of Provincetown Women’s Week and the 50th anniversary of Trans Week: the original Fantasia Fair, the longest-running transgender event in the world.
Experience a quintessential Provincetown Summer, a vacation drenched in Fall colors and crisp beach walks, an enriching escape learning about local food, wine, theatre, and books, or a cozy winter getaway; travelers will find all of these experiences and so much more in the magical town at the tip of Cape Cod. Plan and book your Provincetown trip now at ptown.org.
Provincetown’s 2024 LGBTQ+ Calendar
Provincetown Business Guild Signature Event
April 22-28
Provincetown is one of two hubs (along with San Francisco) of Lesbian Visibility Week (LVW) USA, with official nationwide celebrations driven by The Curve Foundation and local Provincetown events produced in partnership with Babes & Bois, Provincetown for Women, and Womencrafts. The goal of LVW is to celebrate lesbians and show solidarity with all LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people.
May 17-19, 2024
Drop the dating apps and get to Provincetown for a fun, safe, and comfortable way to meet other women at hosted events like comedy shows, scavenger hunts, Star-Crossed: a live astrology dating game show, dance parties, iconic Provincetown attractions, tours, and more.
May 23-27, 2024
Every Memorial Day Weekend, LesbianNightLife and Provincetown for Women plan a week of events for thousands of LGBTQ+ women, non-binary, and trans community members. These events include dance parties, live entertainment, beach days, pool parties, boat cruises, and more.
May 30-June 2, 2024
A celebration of pride and diversity for LGBTQ+ women, trans, nonbinary, and gender-fluid people of color and their allies. It is an unforgettable four-day experience filled with workshops, shows, parties, shared meals, and more—all curated to elevate, strengthen, and educate.
Provincetown Pride
May 31-June 2, 2024
Celebrate the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community with a Pride rally, dance parties, the queer comedy showcase at Town Hall, the Feet Over Front Street 5K – Pride Edition, a special Pride Center art exhibit in partnership with Obodo, a groundbreaking Nigerian Queer Artist Fund aimed at supporting and strengthening LGBTQ+ artists in Nigeria, and much more.
June 3-9, 2024
Provincetown CabaretFest is dedicated to preserving the art of Cabaret performance. Celebrate the golden era of nightclubs and the glamor, romance, and singers of the 1940s and 1950s at the 10th anniversary of this event.
Provincetown International Film Festival
June 12-16, 2024
The 26th annual 5-day festival showcases independent narratives, documentaries, animated features, shorts, panel discussions, and special events.
June 13-17, 2024
Frolic Weekend is a 5-day celebration of queer joy for men of color from all over the world. Frolic attendees enjoy social mixers, pool parties, club nights, beach takeovers, and other events.
Pride Wellness Retreat
June 24-29, 2024
A 5-night all-inclusive gay men’s retreat produced by Provincetown business Outermost Yoga that includes yoga, meals, accommodations, excursions, bike rentals, and more.
Provincetown Portuguese Festival
June 28-30, 2024
A celebration of Provincetown’s Portuguese heritage and the historic fishing traditions of the community through music, dancing, food, and the Blessing of the Fleet.
Revolution: Independence Weekend
June 29-July 6, 2024
Celebrate the 4th of July with dazzling fireworks and explosive parties all week long, hosted by the Crown & Anchor.
🏳️🌈Bear Week
July 13-20, 2024
Bears, cubs, wolves, otters, and their admirers venture to Provincetown during this annual week, featuring events produced by Provincetown Bears, Bearmania, the PBG, and more! This year’s highlights include the return of the Otter Pop Pool Party, star of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and of the Broadway touring company of “Hairspray,” Nina West at Town Hall, the Bear Week Wiener Roast and legacy favorites like The Firemen’s Ball, BBQs, and more.
Girl Splash
July 24-27, 2024
The annual summer getaway for women, produced by Provincetown for Women, features entertainment, pool parties, women-only dune tours, beach relaxation, and other summer events.
July 27-August 3, 2024
Family Week is the largest annual gathering of LGBTQ+ parents and their children in the world. It offers opportunities for LGBTQ+ parents, children, extended families, and friends from across the globe to connect, build community, and get empowered.
20th Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival
August 5-13, 2024
The Provincetown Jazz Festival is a nonprofit organization donating a portion of the proceeds to worthy causes, including the Jazz in the Schools program on Cape Cod.
🏳️🌈 Carnival
August 17-24, 2024
One of the largest outdoor events in Massachusetts and Provincetown’s original summer celebration of community, expression, and creativity will celebrate the theme Renaissance + Revolution this year. The weeklong festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world to enjoy parties, performances, costume contests, and the celebrated Carnival parade (August 22).
Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla Weekend
September 6-8, 2024
Join swimmers, volunteers, kayakers, and cheerleaders for this quintessential Provincetown event and fundraiser that has raised over $6M since 1988 for AIDS, women’s health, and other services for the Cape Cod community.
International Women’s Flag Football Association Ptown Classic Tournament
September 6-9, 2024
The International Women’s Flag Football Association is a women’s empowerment organization that uses flag football to bring equality to women worldwide.
September 12-15, 2024
NGPA is the largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pilots, aviation professionals, and enthusiasts from around the world. Started over 30 years ago, the Cape Cod Classic is held annually in Provincetown.
Pet Appreciation Week & Pet Tea
September 22-28, 2024
CASAS Animal Shelter hosts Pet Appreciation Week in Ptown. Take part in the pet parade and pet tea and support this no-kill, all-volunteer animal shelter in Provincetown.
The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival
September 26-29, 2024
The 19th season will turn to memory: fables, yarns, and revelations by Tennessee Williams.
September 27-29, 2024
Celebrating the power of words to change the world and literacy to change lives, the Provincetown Book Festival is an annual weekend of free programs that support the culture of books, writing, and reading in Provincetown.
Mates Leather Weekend XXVII
October 3-7, 2024
A weekend of parties, relaxation, and socializing with other like-minded people in leather, rubber, and uniforms.
October 11-13, 2024
Presented by Provincetown Brewing Co. and the Crown & Anchor, the Washashore Festival is a genre-bending, queer music festival that celebrates the freedom, breadth, and power of queer expression.
Provincetown Women’s Week
October 14-20, 2024
2024 marks the 40th anniversary of this landmark weeklong event for women featuring comics, live music, workshops, special editions of Ptown attractions, gallery exhibits celebrating women in art, dance parties, and so much more.
Trans Week: The Original Fantasia Fair
October 20-27, 2024
The longest-running transgender event in the world celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024. Every day of Trans Week has activities and events to inspire, educate, and entertain. This total immersion experience welcomes everyone.
Halloween Weekend in Provincetown
October 31 – November 3, 2024
A ghoulish New England Halloween awaits you as Provincetown and Spooky Bear host a monstrous medley of parties, costume contests, and deliciously devilish entertainment.
Provincetown Food & Wine Festival
November 7-10, 2024
This signature event, now in its fourth year, features a Grand Tasting, wine dinners, entertainment, and the last Tea Dance of the season.
November 15-17, 2024
The annual pageant to crown Mr./Mx. New England Leather 2025.
🏳️🌈Thanksgiving Weekend in Provincetown
November 28-December 1, 2024
Celebrate with your bio or chosen family at the many restaurants that welcome visitors and locals for a holiday meal with menus ranging from the traditional to the modern. The day after Thanksgiving is ‘Pink Friday’ in Provincetown. A local spin on ‘Black Friday,’ ‘Pink Friday’ highlights the wide range of LBGTQ+-owned shops that pack Provincetown with one-of-a-kind and locally-made gifts.
🏳️🌈Holly Folly
December 6-8, 2024
The nation’s largest and oldest LGBTQ+ Holiday Celebration, Holly Folly, first began in 1997 as an opportunity to gather and celebrate the holiday season with our chosen family in Provincetown. Today the queer community travels from far and wide to enjoy holiday shopping at local businesses, The Canteen’s holiday market, the Jingle Bell Run and Champagne Brunch, dance parties, sing-alongs, live entertainment, drag bingo, and more.
🏳️🌈First Light
December 27, 2024-January 2, 2025
Ring in the New Year on the tip of Cape Cod with performances, fine art, delicious fare, and post-holiday shopping experiences along Commercial Street. All this before taking a front-row seat to the fireworks off MacMillan Pier at dusk on New Year’s Eve. Dance parties across town and the annual Provincetown Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day round out the annual end-of-year celebration.
About the Provincetown Business Guild
Founded in 1978, the Provincetown Business Guild is a membership-based nonprofit focused on promoting Provincetown as the travel destination for the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to elevate and cultivate the queer identity of Provincetown, drive LGBTQ+ tourism, and support our local businesses by producing events, providing marketing & promotional opportunities, and striving to unite and represent the business community. Our vision is a world where every LGBTQ+ person feels safe and welcome in Provincetown, experiencing its unique magic and charm as a destination that celebrates diversity and inclusivity. We strive to bring all people to Provincetown to stay, eat, shop, and experience the specialness of the town as a safe harbor where visitors can be themselves. Find more information on ptown.org and follow @VisitPtown on Facebook and Instagram. for updates.
[From a News Release].
NOTE: Please check dates and changes to the schedule and consult with ptown.org prior to booking travel plans, in case there is a change in the schedule provided by PTown.org. The Rainbow Times, nor its management, are responsible for the content of this calendar.
