Ptown Celebrates the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Dust off your favorite sweaters and pull out those holiday decorations because it's the most wonderful time of the year in Provincetown. The New England queer hotspot transforms into a wonderland, from festivals and pageants to foodies and fireworks, as the old year passes and the new year sweeps in. Grab your queer pals for these magical events that make Ptown the perfect cozy and festive getaway this holiday season.

Food & Wine Festival

Kick off the year-end parade of events with the 4th Annual Provincetown Food & Wine Festival, a weekend-long journey through flavors, fun and festivities. Stroll through dozens of booths and tables as the Ptown community pulls out all the stops to bring friends, neighbors and visitors the finest foods and wines on the east coast. The community ups the ante, opening its shops and galleries with extended hours for three days of prix fixe menus, brunches, grand tastings, live performances, and even a pie competition.

Matt King, creator and event director for the Food & Wine Festival, says the beloved festival is so much more than bites and sips. "We started the festival in November of 2021 because we needed to bring the community together again after the pandemic," King tells me during a phone interview. "It keeps growing every year. This year is particularly special because the calendar pushed it out a week. The community showed up in a big way, and it is not just food and wine purveyors but also big entertainment shows, locally owned businesses like the Crown & Anchor, and even Town Hall putting in effort for the whole town."

I can imagine the huge smile on King's face as we wrap up our interview: "The nicest thing I get from everyone is the gratitude for a weekend of unity that makes this a special time of the year." Come hungry to eat your way through the most delicious weekend of the year – only in Ptown!

New England Leather

Strap on your favorite gear for New England Leather running November 22-24, a bold celebration of all things kink and leather. The "supportive space for New England's queer leather people of all stripes" brings enthusiasts together for an exciting showcase that leads up to Thanksgiving. And the competition doesn't stop after crowning a winner. Dubbed a feeder contest, the winner goes on to compete in the International Leather contest held in Chicago. And the best part? The contest has expanded to be inclusive of all gender identities. "Starting this year, we are no longer calling it Mister," confirms Roberto Cuero, producer for Ptown's feeder contest. "Anyone with any gender identity can win and the community rallies behind the title holder for the international competition." A safe space to let your kink flag fly? Yes, please!

Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument

Take note history buffs and come out for the Lighting on the Hill, a yearly celebration that kicks off the holiday season with a commemoration of a pivotal moment in the founding of our great country. Gather with friends and family around the Monument at the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum (PMPM) on High Pole Hill on the eve of Thanksgiving and enjoy local food and drink and learn about the true landing of the Pilgrims. It turns out the Pilgrims didn't actually land first at Plymouth, but in Provincetown in 1620. The monument commemorates the occasion.

"It's funny how we pass down stories, but our actual history can sometimes be very different," says Courtney Hurst, executive director of PMPM . "Even the lights are assumed to be holiday lights, but they are actually landing lights to commemorate the ships landing in the harbor. Two presidents have come for a visit – one to lay a cornerstone and the other to commemorate the hallowed ground." I wrap up my interview with Hurst, a native of Ptown, overflowing with joy for the bit of history that is captured in the monument that means so much to the local community. "One look at the monument gets into your soul in a way you can't shake. That night when the community is here – it's a visceral feeling of love."

Holly Folly

Take your holiday celebrations to new heights with Holly Folly, a weekend extravaganza of queer delights and shopping sprees that will put you in a reverie of holiday spirit. "This is the largest LGBTQ+ holiday celebration in the nation," says Trevor Pittinger, executive director, and Carmen da Silva, associate director, about the holiday events during a phone interview. "Not everyone has a perfect family to go back to for the holidays, but to celebrate the magic of the season with your chosen family in Ptown is really special and important." The month-long season of events goes beyond Holly Folly weekend with a Jingle Bell Run, two Town Hall shows, dances and soirees, and a town transformed into a wonderland of glittering shops and boutiques.

The Outer Cape Choral Concert

Speaking of Town Hall, the glorious space always hosts a special treat this time of year. The Outer Cape Choral Concert brings together a 15 piece orchestra with 120 singers for Choral Treasures, a mesmerizing concert event that will channel the spirit of the season through classical music masterpieces. Drawing from Bach to Bernstein and beyond, the concert showcases a packed house, free for all, on Friday, December 13 at 7 p.m., with another concert on Saturday, December 14 at 5 p.m. "The concert is so large we can't even fit all the singers on the stage, they have to stand on the floor," says Allison Beaven, artistic director for the concerts. "The theme this year for the music I selected is unity, and I hope that is reflected in the community coming together for these concerts. Can you imagine anything better?"

First Light

Your stockings will be stuffed with so many fun things to do for the holidays in Provincetown, but don't miss the belle of the ball: First Light, a New Years party that kicks off the new trip around the sun in high fashion. Hosted this year by Trampolina, a beloved local drag queen, the festivities begin with fireworks at dusk followed by a NYE live performance. "And this year bars are open till 2 a.m.," says Pittinger and da Silva. But don't sleep in or you'll miss the Polar Bear Plunge! It's an annual New Year's Day event that sends enthusiasts plunging into the Provincetown harbor.

Plan Your Visit

Provincetown is your holiday destination this year, chock full of festival delights, delicious treats and commemorative gatherings. Who could ask for anything more? "People who love Ptown come here for the spirit of the community, and it shines brighter this time of year," says Pittinger and Da Silva, finishing our interview.

Check out the Provincetown Office of Tourism to plan your most wonderful holiday getaway today.