Provincetown Offers up a Different Kind of Magic for the Holiday Season

Provincetown, the popular summer hotspot for bears and all other LGBTQ+ travelers, is also a great destination in the fall and winter months. The town’s calendars fill up with holiday shows and events, restaurants plan memorable dining experiences, accommodations offer reduced rates, and visitors can experience why Provincetown is one of the world’s top LGBTQ+ destinations at a slightly more leisurely pace. Autumn and winter provide opportunities to explore the town through a new lens, without the summer crowds.

“The fall and winter seasons in Provincetown offer a magical escape for every type of traveler,” said Trevor Pittinger, executive director of the Provincetown Business Guild (PBG). “The cooler months reveal a different side of Ptown that one can only experience at this time of year. The vibrant holiday season, the tranquility of our off-season splendor, unique shopping, and entertaining shows from the hilarious to the poignant, Ptown’s cooler seasons are filled with many things to see, do, and experience. This is also a great time to spend time with and get to know the community of people that make this community so special. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover Provincetown’s magic when the summer crowds dwindle and the town takes on a whole new character.”

Known for its rich history of creativity and culture, Provincetown’s artistic side shines extra bright during the cooler months. Provincetown’s iconic Pilgrim Monument gets dressed up for the holidays at the annual lighting of the Monument on Thanksgiving Eve, November 27. Viewable across town and for miles up the Cape, this year’s community lighting celebration will include a DJ spinning festive tunes and a cash bar for cocktails, mocktails, and kid-friendly drinks.

Another annual light-filled Provincetown tradition happens on November 30. See the Lobster Pot Christmas tree in Lopes Square, where 120+ lobster pots are stacked over two stories high, decorated with ribbons, garlands, and thousands of festive lights to create a unique and historically significant reinvention of the Christmas tree. This holiday photo opportunity with a side of history is on display through the end of 2024.

On Thanksgiving Day, many restaurants welcome visitors and locals for a holiday meal with traditional and modern menus. The day after Thanksgiving is ‘Pink Friday’ in Provincetown. A local spin on ‘Black Friday,’ ‘Pink Friday’ highlights the wide range of queer-owned small businesses that pack Provincetown with one-of-a-kind gifts. ‘Pink Friday’ is also when the return of a holiday group art show returns to the Provincetown Pride Center. “Decked” features the queer artists & allies of The Provincetown Commons and will be on display through the holidays. This art show is an opportunity to buy a unique piece of Provincetown art as a holiday gift.

Beginning on November 30, the Canteen transforms into a magical Austrian chalet adjoining a marketplace pop-up perfect for gathering, enjoying holiday food and drinks, and buying handcrafted goods from local artisans. The Canteen’s Holiday Market is open through December 31 for eating, drinking, shopping, and wine’ n wassailing.

After Thanksgiving, the festive season in Ptown kicks into high gear with Holly Folly, one of the only LGBTQ+ holiday festivals in the country, December 6-8, 2024. The three-day festival is filled with entertainment, gallery strolls, fabulous food, holiday shopping, innkeeper open houses, nightlife, the Jingle Bell Fun Run down Commercial Street, and additional merry events created to welcome the winter season to Provincetown.

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) returns to Provincetown for Holly Folly with a special performance of their 2024 holiday show “B.Y.O.B. – Bring Your Own Bells” on December 7 at Town Hall. Blending favorite holiday classics with BGMC’s signature flair, this show will feature timeless carols, modern hits, and harmonies that will warm your heart. Also happening at Town Hall is the Holly Folly Follies presented by the Crown & Anchor on Friday, December 6.

Celebrate the end of 2024 and ring in the New Year in Provincetown with fine dining, fireworks, and the Polar Plunge. Enjoy a glass of champagne at one of the many harborside restaurants while watching the fireworks at MacMillan Pier sparkle over the bay.

Welcome 2025 on January 1 by dipping, jumping, and splashing into the Provincetown Harbor at the Provincetown Polar Bear Plunge. This New Year’s Day tradition is a fundraiser for The Center for Coastal Studies.

For tickets and the complete fall and winter schedule of LGBTQ+ events in Provincetown, visit ptown.org/calendars.