No one celebrates the holidays quite like Provincetown, the queer seaside haven that welcomes everyone with bountiful holiday spirit and joy. The unofficial LGBTQ+ capital of the United States, Ptown kicks off the season with a party to mark the first landing of the Pilgrims, unveils the lively month-long Canteen Holiday Market, and turns up the heat with the festive, event-filled Holly Folly. First Light, with its concerts and parties, is the crowning event that welcomes 2025 with fireworks and a splash at the Polar Bear Plunge in Provincetown Harbor. Toss in a month of holiday shopping at Ptown’s colorful and individually owned boutiques. Then, add a bounty of incredible and unique restaurants and lodgings that stay open through the holidays. Provincetown has all the ingredients for a joyous and welcoming holiday break.
ANNUAL LIGHTING OF THE PILGRIM MONUMENT
The Annual Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument on November 27, 2024, begins at 3 PM, with the lighting at 5 PM. The annual festive gathering highlights connection and community spirit, commemorating the day in 1620 when the Pilgrims sailed into Provincetown harbor and first came ashore before eventually sailing to Plymouth. The gathering is about more than just awaiting the lights. It’s become a joyous community celebration with hundreds of celebrants expected this year, featuring music by DJ Emerson, a cash bar for beer, wine, and hard seltzers, and a bake sale for sweets and hot chocolate.
LIGHTING OF THE LOBSTER POT TREE
Provincetown’s famous Lobster Pot Tree is constructed out of more than 100 lobster pots that have been artfully stacked in Lopes Square and strung with lights and ribbons. Artist Julian Popko created the tree in 2004 as a celebration to honor the town’s lobstermen with a town gathering, carol singing, and a countdown to the lighting to kick off the holiday season. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this Ptown tradition, with a gathering at 5:30 PM on November 30, 2024, at Lopes Square.
CANTEEN HOLIDAY MARKET
The Canteen Holiday Market is a month-long pop-up celebration from November 29, 2024 -December 29th. The Canteen is transformed into a magical, welcoming place to gather, enjoy holiday food and drink, and buy handcrafted goods from local artisans. Each day of the market features 25 local vendors, ranging from local woodworkers & jewelers to painters, leatherworkers, and clothes makers. The Vendors’ Market is on weekends only and closes at 5 PM. The Canteen’s Backyard Bar, Bakeshop, and Food Hut are decorated for the holidays with twinkling lights, snug blankets, fire pits, and steaming mugs of holiday drinks. Open weekends only, until 7 PM. The Canteen serves all-day food and beverages, including lunch and dinner specials, beers, wines, a full bar, and cocktail specials. The Canteen is open seven days a week and serves food and drinks until 7 PM and until 9 PM on weekends.
HOLLY FOLLY
The nation’s largest and oldest LGBTQ+ Holiday Celebration, Holly Folly, is the nation’s original LGBTQ+ Holiday Celebration from December 6-8, 2024. It began in 1997 as an opportunity to gather and celebrate the Holiday season with fellow revelers in Provincetown. Today the queer community travels from far and wide to enjoy excellent performance art, fine dining, and holiday shopping experiences from the genuinely unique shops, boutiques, and galleries that line Commercial Street.
The Holly Folly Follies is the festive holiday version of the Provincetown Follies, presented by Jonathan Hawkins and the Crown & Anchor in historic Town Hall. Join Provincetown’s most beloved performers as they present A GAY Holiday Extravaganza on December 6 at 8:30 PM.
The annual Holly Folly Jingle Bell Run & Brunch Fundraiser is a fun run with as little clothing as you dare. Runners gather at Fanizzi’s for coffee, strip down, and race through Provincetown to the Lobster Pot Tree before climbing into their favorite onesie for a Brew Brunch at Provincetown Brewing Co. December 7th, 9 AM – 10:30 AM.
The Holly Folly Inn Stroll is a casual drop-in to visit some of Provincetown’s most iconic inns, while the Snowball Bar Crawl is a crawl through some of Provincetown’s favorite watering halls. Both are happening on December 7 from 1 PM to 4 PM.
The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus presents B.Y.O.B – Bring Your Own Bells! on December 7 at 8 PM in the Town Hall. It’s a holiday show designed to dazzle and delight with timeless classics and modern favorites. Don’t forget to bring your bells. The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is one of New England’s largest and most successful community-based choruses and was founded in 1982.
The return of Holly Folly Bingo with Austin & Mackenzie is December 8 from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Crown & Anchor.
OUTER CAPE CHORALE
The Outer Cape Chorale will present Choral Blockbusters at Provincetown Town Hall on December 13 at 7 PM and December 14 at 5 PM. It will include O Fortuna from Carmina Burana, Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine, works by John Williams, and more. Concerts are free, and donations are welcome.
FIRST LIGHT
There’s no better way to welcome 2025 than First Light, which runs from December 27, 2024 – January 2, 2025. A Provincetown tradition, First Light is the year’s finale and the New Year’s welcome, a four-day-long event featuring holiday parties, events, and performances.
Everyone can join the Lite Bright Bike Ride on New Year’s Eve and then get ready for fireworks to ring in the New Year on December 31st at McMillan Pier. Partygoers can also watch the fireworks from nearby bars, clubs, and restaurants with decks and indoor seating.
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
On New Year’s Day 2024, Provincetown will celebrate the seventh annual Provincetown Polar Bear Plunge. The event brings together hundreds of brave swimmers, inspired by music spun by a New Year’s Day DJ, for an event to support The Center for Coastal Studies. At noon, weather permitting, registrants will run, splash, and plunge into the waters of Provincetown Harbor. The cost for single registrants is $60.
For more information on Provincetown’s events, festivals, and weekends, visit Provincetown Tourism.
