Tag Archives: Provincetown

Provincetown’s annual holiday celebration, Holly Folly, is back this Friday and continuing with activities through Sunday. Festivities include traditional caroling to the more eye popping Speedo run down Commercial Street.

Events include a little something for everyone (not to mention some great sales for those looking for retail therapy away from the hordes at the malls).

Friday Holly Folly Events

Shipwreck Lounge drinks with Boston Gay Men’s Chorus
10th Annual Tis the Season fundraiser at The Paramount
Holly Folly at the Wave Bar
A-House Holly Folly dance party

Saturday Holly Folly Events

Jingle Bell Run and Champagne Brunch
Holly Folly Ptown Inn stroll
Holiday Guild Drag Bingo with Tiki Bronstein
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus: Brass, Bows & Boys concert
A-House Holly Folly dance party

For the full list of events visit the website at ptown.org/holly-folly.

For those of you who missed Carnival or for those of you who were there and wishing the fun week was not over, here is a beautiful video courtesy of David Cox who’s videos never disappoint.

Next year’s 41st Provincetown Carnival will start on August 15 and conclude on August 25th with the parade on Thursday, August 22, 2019. The theme will be Enchanted Forest.

Today is the last full day of 2018 Carnival. Although the weather started stormy it corrected itself and each day was a little more beautiful. For those leaving on the Saturday morning ferries, have an amazing time tonight with your friends.

Below are photos taken during Ptown’s annual Carnival Parade
Much thanks to my friend, Kyle Szary, who does a great job photographing the parade and the masses strolling up and down Commercial Street.

Click on individual photos to enlarge for better viewing

Miss Richfield 1981 – Grand Marshall

Group costumes are always popular at Carnival

But you needn’t be in a group to make a statement at Carnival

Chris Marchant makes for a tempting Aquaman

And one more photo that I swiped from Sergio’s Instagram feed. Miss Bubble Wrap was one of my favorite floats from this year’s Carnival Parade.

Next year’s 41st Provincetown Carnival will start on August 15 and conclude on August 25th with the parade on Thursday, August 22, 2019, and the theme will be Enchanted Forest so I fully expect to see all sorts of frisky woodland creatures and more than a few unicorns.

Provincetown Carnival 2018 is a week long celebration of LGBTQ life that starts Saturday, August 11th and runs through Friday, August 18th, but really culminates in the Carnival Parade on Thursday.  This year is Provincetown’s 40th Carnival celebration and Grand marshals include John Waters, Kate Clinton and Tony Kushner. The theme for this year is Mardi Gras by the Sea.

Below is a list of many events and parties that will take place during Carnival. If you’re planning to come down for the week, a few days or just for an afternoon there is plenty to see and do. Please note that many of these parties and events require tickets so it is best to purchase in advance since most sell out.

SATURDAY

Daily Tea Dance starts at 4PM at the Boatslip

Tea Dance at the Boatslip is a daily occurrence but there is something special about the first tea dance of the 2018 Carnival Week.

DILF: Carnival Edition doors open at 9:30PM at the Crown & Anchor’s Paramount Club with music by the Perry Twins

SUNDAY

Cruise D’ Krewes Sunset Boat Party boarding begins at 4PM and the cruise runs from 4:30 – 7:30PM at Macmillan Pier

The Night of Bacchus Costume Ball is the official opening party for 2018 Carnival – doors open at 8:30PM at the Paramount & Wave bar

MONDAY

Ragin’ Cajun Pool Party is a massive pool party that takes place from 1-5PM at the Brass Key pool

Mardi Gras by the Sea Carnival Dance Party with DJ Phil B starts at 10PM at the Crown & Anchor’s Paramount Club

TUESDAY

Fat Tuesday: Boxers and Beads Party is at the A-House with Resident DJ and Billboard Magazine reporter David LaSalle spinning your favorite music

Mardi Gras by the Sea Carnival Dance Party with DJ James Anthony starts at 10PM at the Crown & Anchor’s Paramount Club

WEDNESDAY

Source: Provincetown Magazine – Carnival 2015

Drag Bingo takes place on the lawn of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House – seating starts at 5PM and bingo starts at 6:30PM

Northern Deca-dance, featuring Betty Who! starts at 7:30PM at Provincetown Hall

Mardi Gras by the Sea Carnival Dance Party with DJ Joe Gauthreaux starts at 10PM at the Crown & Anchor’s Paramount Club

THURSDAY

Photo by Kyle Szary from 2017 Carnival “Gods and Goddesses”

Carnival Parade – 40th Anniversary don’t miss this parade and all the strutting up and down Commercial Street during the day – it is the best people watching all year and a lot of fun; from 3-5PM

Underwear Party at Club Purgatory will be jammed Carnival Week – doors open at 9PM

Mardi Gras by the Sea Carnival Dance Party with DJ Micky Friedmann starts at 10PM at the Crown & Anchor’s Paramount Club

FRIDAY

Drag Brunch – Benefit for Helping Our Women (HOW) is hosted by  Miss Richfield 1981, and starts at 12PM at Patio on Commercial Street

Mardi Gras Muscles Party is at the A-House with Resident DJ and Billboard Magazine reporter David LaSalle spinning your favorite music

Nights of Adonis Masquerade Party with DJ Abel & VJ Tom Yaz at the Crown and Anchor’s Paramount and Wave Bars starting at 10PM

Feel free to add any events I overlooked in the comments section.

Just as 2018 Independence Week comes to a close, 2018 Bear Week roars into Ptown starting Saturday. If you are heading to Provincetown for this coming Bear Week, check out the Boatslip’s massive tea dance each day, visit the clubs like The Crown & Anchor’s Paramount & Wave Bar, Atlantic House (A-House) and Purgatory. But also make time to catch a show or two while you visit. Below is a sampling of some of the parties that will take place in Ptown this week.

Purgatory’s underwear party during Bear Week starts at 9:30

Saturday, July 7th: 
Underbear Party will be packed at Club Purgatory – doors open at 9PM
Big Muscle Bears Dance Party at the Crown & Anchor starts at 9:30PM
BearMania hits the A-House doors open at 10PM

Sunday, July 8th: 
BRUT at the Crown and Anchor starts at 9:30PM
Bear Disco Party is at the A-House doors open at 10PM

Monday, July 9th: 
I Love the 90s Tea Dance at the Boatslip 4-7PM
Pig Dance at the Crown and Anchor starts at 9:30PM
Bears Night Out at the A-House starts at 10PM

Tuesday, July 10th: 
Locker Room Party hosted by Ptown Bears at the Boatslip starts at 9PM
DILF Party at the Crown and Anchor starts at 9:30PM
Leather / Fetish night at the A-House starts at 10PM

Wednesday, July 11th:
Come and Scrum Boston Ironsides Party at Harbor Lounge 12-3PM
Bear Naked Pool Party at the Crown and Anchor from 12-4PM
RAM: Sports Gear & Leather at the Crown and Anchor starts at 9:30PM
Jock Night at the A-House starts at 10PM

Thursday, July 12th:
Solid Gold Tea Dance at the Boatslip 4-7PM
Bears, Boots & Boxers: Excessive 80s at Club Purgatory starts at 9PM
FurBall at the Crown and Anchor starts at 9:30PM

Friday, July 13th:
PLUNGE! Pool Party at the Crown and Anchor 11AM-4PM
Fireman’s Ball at the Crown and Anchor starts at 9:30PM
Uniform Ball at the A-House starts at 10PM

For a complete listing of all official 2018 Bear Week events you can check out the online schedule on the Ptown Bears website.

Each week large crowds head to Provincetown and while there is plenty to do, I like to encourage people to take in at least one performance. Below is a modified listing of shows taking place the month of July. If there is not a date next to the performer / performance, it means they perform weekly – just check ahead for which days and availability.

COMEDY & CABARET IN PROVINCETOWN

ShowGirls weekly talent show is every Monday

Jul 9-11                  Sam Morrison performs his show Hello Daddy
Jul 10                     Neil Thornton One night only, comedy show
Jul 18-20               Poppy’s Poppin’ N Rockin’ Comedy Show
Jul 23-27               Deven Green comes to Ptown for five nights only

DRAG SHOWS IN PROVINCETOWN

Thirsty Burlington performs All Things Cher

Miss Ritchfield 1981 (new venue this year)

Dina Martina performs “Crème de la Dregs” 

Raja Season 3 winner of RPDR performs

Varla Jean Merman performs Under a Big Top 

Jinkx Monsoon performs Beach City Bimbo

Miss Conception performs Forbidden Diznee 

Jinx, Peaches & Liza in Hocum Pokem 

Varla Jean & Peaches Christ in The Whining 

Ben DeLaCreme performs Inferno A-Go-Go 

Varla Jean Merman & Peaches Christ perform The Whining

Jul 2-3                  Pam Ann
Jul 4 – Aug 19      Trixie Mattel brings her show to Ptown
Jul 16                     Chelsea Piers performs Are you there Ru it’s me Chelsea
Jul 23-24              Sandra Bernhard performs her show, Sandemonium
Jul 23-Aug 1         Joan Rivers Tribute Show, The Bitch is Back
Jul 9                       Bianca Del Rio One Show Only! Blame it on Bianca
Jul 23-29               Deven Green
Jul 30-Aug 1         Paige Turner  performs Drag Me To The Top

THEATER & BURLESQUE SHOWS IN PROVINCETOWN

Brokelohomo! is at Fisherman Hall every Sunday

Jul 8-9                    Bearlesque hosted by Josh Schonewolf
Jul 10                      Hair the Musical
Jul 16 – Aug 30     Love! Valour! Compassion!

MUSIC ACTS / SHOWS IN PROVINCETOWN

Bobby Weatherbee at the Central House Piano Bar

Doug Repetti at the Dive Bar Piano at the Crown

Esera Tualo from The Voice performs at Pilgrim House

Well Strung

Steve Grand 

Jul 7-8                   Branden & James
Jul 9-10                 Matt Alber
Jul 11-12                Tom Goss performs Confessions of a Pocket Cub
Jul 15-16               Judy Kuhn w/ Seth Rudetsky
Jul 17                     Adam Pascal w/ Seth Rudetsky
Jul 17                     Speakeasy Night w/ Zoe Lewis & the Bootleggers
Jul 19-20              Christine Ebersole w/ Seth Rudetsky
Jul 23                    Lucy Arnaz
Jul 28-29              Will Swenson w/ Seth Rudetsky

One of the busiest theme weeks in Provincetown all year is Independence Week. The tiny fishing village and artist community swells to well beyond capacity,  but don’t be deterred.

Be sure to check out the Boatslip’s massive tea dance each day, visit some of the clubs like The Crown & Anchor’s Paramount & Wave Bar, Atlantic House (A-House) and Purgatory. Also make time to catch a show or two while you visit. Below is a sampling of some of the parties that will take place.

Friday, June 29th: Independence Opening Party at the Crown and Anchor with music by DJ Blacklow will be the biggest party in town.

PECS at the A-House is hosted by Thirsty Burlington with music by resident DJ David LaSalle

Saturday, June 30th: Daily Tea Dance at the Boatslip 4-7PM

Independence Saturday Night at the Crown and Anchor will feature music from DJ Alex Acosta

Underwear Party will be packed at Club Purgatory – doors open at 9PM

Sunday, July 1st: Don’t miss TRADE pool party at the Crown and Anchor with DJ Rodolfo Bravat from Brazil from 11AM – 4PM

Daily Tea Dance at the Boatslip 4-7PM

Rough Trade with music by Morabito starts at 9PM at the Crown and Anchor

Leather Dance Party is at Club Purgatory starting at 9PM

Monday, July 2nd: TRADE pool party at the Crown and Anchor features DJ Warren from 11AM – 4PM

I Love the 90s Tea Dance at the Boatslip 4-7PM

Independence at the A-House will be going strong with resident DJ David LaSalle

Independence Monday Night at The Crown and Anchor has music by DJ Grind and DJ Chris Racine

Tuesday, July 3rd: Freedom Beach Party with music by DJ Brett Henrichsen from 1 – 6PM

Independence at the A-House will be going strong with resident DJ David LaSalle

Independence Tuesday Night at The Crown and Anchor with music by DJ Alain Jackinsky and DJ Chris Racine

Wednesday, July 4th: TRADE pool party at the Crown and Anchor has DJ GSP from Greece from 11AM – 4PM

Bonus Tea Dance at the Boatslip starts at 4PM and runs til the free fireworks show over Provincetown Harbor finishes

Fireworks over Provincetown Harbor starts at dusk

Independence at the A-House will be going strong with resident DJ David LaSalle

Independence 2018 at The Crown and Anchor features music by DJ Eddie Martinez

Thursday, July 5th: Solid Gold Tea Dance at the Boatslip 4-7PM

Rough Trade: Sports Edition at The Crown and Anchor features music by DJ Danny Verde

Friday, July 6th: RIPPED at the A-House is hosted by Thirsty Burlington with music by resident DJ David LaSalle

Provincetown is a favorite destination for LGBTQ travelers so it may come as a surprise to learn that June 1-3, 2018, Ptown will host its first Pride Festival. The Festival starts with “Official Pride Ferries” from Bay State Cruise Company leaving from Boston on Friday, June 1st and includes an assortment of events including (partial listing) of the following.

Friday, June 1 at 8:00 PM: Global Rainbow is an ongoing public piece of
art by artist Yvette Mattern commissioned by Provincetown Business Guild. Colored rays of laser light will be projected toward the sky, simulating a natural rainbow arc and expected to be visible for up to 20 miles.

Saturday, June 2 at 4ish: 1st PRIDE Sashay to the Boatslip Tea. What would be more appropriate than making the walk down Commercial Street to the Boatslip Tea dance part of Ptown’s first Pride?

Sunday, June 3  Underwear PRIDE Closing Party at Purgatory is the perfect way to close out the weekend celebration. 

There are obviously more events scheduled and you can read more about Provincetown’s first Pride festival by visiting ptown.org/pride.