Event Dates
From: Saturday, December 30, 2023
To: Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Come celebrate the arrival of the new year in Provincetown at the annual “First Light” festival,
Come celebrate the arrival of the new year in Provincetown at the annual “First Light” festival, an annual 5 day event featuring spectacular fireworks, great parties and more! First Light fireworks on New Year’s Day spark a full 5-day weekend of fun for New Year’s Provincetown to start the year right.
- Although it is off season, weekends in PTown fill up, especially for special events, so book your hotel in advance as you would in the Summer season. Check out The Clarendon House, a charming hotel with great rooms, excellent breakfast options and charming hosts.
New Year in Provincetown
- Provincetown comes alive one last time with New Year’s revelers before settling into the winter season. Restaurants, shops, bars, clubs will all be open. Events include dancing, special social events, and performers.
- Visit the Christmas market at The Canteen , open each day, perfect for picking up that last minute unique gift.
- Enjoy cocktails and live entertainment by the piano each night at Tin Pan Alley. The Art House is also host to several First Light events.
- Head to the Crown and Anchor for First Light Drag Bingo
- Book your New Year’s even dinner at Crowne Point, hosting two separate sittings, at 6pm and 9pm.
- Celebrate with an NYE Countdown party from 10pm at The Red Room.
- Don’t miss Sunday Service Drag Brunch at Pilgrim House
The Fireworks Display
- December 31st – Don’t miss the town’s fireworks display on New Year’s Day at the Provincetown Harbor at dusk!
- Scheduled for 5.30 pm, Fireworks are dependent on weather conditions and may be rescheduled in the event of adverse conditions.
The Polar Bear Plunge
- Jan 1st 2024 – Take out that summer swimsuit and take the annual Polar Bear Plunge challenge on New Year’s Day at 11pm.
- Join intrepid group of people at the Johnson Street parking lot, collect T-shirts, listen to some carefully selected music spun by DJ, Chris Racine, and learn about the important work of the Center for Coastal Studies. At noon, weather permitting, run, splash and plunge into the waters of Provincetown Harbor.
- And if you don’t want to take the plunge, come on down and cheer on those brave plungers! This event, co-sponsored by the Harbor Lounge, Yolqueria and the 8 Dyer Hotel will feature a quick dip in the harbor followed by warm-up cocktails and chili at Harbor Lounge. There will be a DJ, music and a guest emcee, as well as coffee, tea, hot chocolate.
Night time parties
- Your favorite watering holes Shipwreck Lounge, the Atlantic House, Porchside Bar, the Macho Bar, Purgatory, and Paramount will be as packed as they are during the sweaty summer months.
- Plus: On New Year’s Eve, bars and clubs can stay open an hour later than the other 364 nights.
Where to Dine
- Restaurants including Strangers & Saints, The Pointe, Central House, The Red Inn, Bayside Betsy’s, Spindler’s, Fanizzi’s, Pilgrim House, Tin Pan Alley and many others – are open for special parties and New Year’s Eve menus and will feed you through the weekend.
The Light Bike Ride
- Awaiting confirmation – The Light Bright Bike Ride, a fun contest with prizes for the brightest, most colorful, and most creative, will parade down Commercial Street on New Year’s Eve during the evening.
Where to stay for New Year’s Eve / First Light in PTown?
Here are out readers top choices on where to stay in Provincetown during the New Year.
Gabriel’s at the Ash brooke Inn, Anchor Inn Beach House, Beaconlight Guest House, Inn at Cook Street
Where to stay close to all the gay bars
Our top 4 selections with the best rates.
Carpe Diem Guesthouse is our home
from home when we are in Provincetown.
For further information and advice on
First Light Provincetown The Website
Provincetown itself has two main drags, Commercial Street and Bradford Street. P’town can be divided into three sections, the quiet and peaceful West End, the bustling downtown center, and the East End, which has a number of galleries and guesthouses.
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in Provincetown that keep you close to all the shops, restaurants & bars
This Provincetown property features rooms equipped with refrigerators and free Wi-Fi. The Pilgrim Monument and Park are within a 10-minute walk of the property. Rooms are uniquely decorated and with large windows and balconies at the Anchor Inn Beach House. The rooms have antique-style furnishings and white bedding.
The Beaconlight Guest House features rooms with an en suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV with DVD player, and a refrigerator. The rooms are furnished with bright colors and inviting décor, and offer plush bathrobes. Guests can relax in the on-site outdoor hot tub or enjoy the summertime flower gardens
Located in the heart of Provincetown’s art gallery district, the historic Inn at Cook Street was originally built in 1836. It features unique, individually decorated guest rooms & serves a daily hot breakfast. Each guest room is decorated with original local artwork & offers antique furnishings. A flat-screen TV & en suite bathroom
located in the heart of Provincetown, Massachussets, boasts a large courtyard and gardens as well as free WiFi access. Every room at The Provincetown Hotel at Gabriel’s features a a cable TV. Many rooms have a fireplace. They are uniquely decorated in warm colours, plush bedding, and wood furnishings. Select rooms offer a balcony.
2017 Polar Bear Plunge – Provincetown
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Expedia
We have chosen hotels in Provincetown that keep you close to all the shops, restaurants & bars
Along with a full-service spa, this hotel has a restaurant and an outdoor pool. Free cooked-to-order breakfast is provided, as well as free WiFi in public areas, free self parking, and a free beach shuttle. Additionally, a bar/lounge, a coffee shop/café, and a sauna are onsite. All rooms feature LED TVs with cable channels, free WiFi. Guests will also find minibars, room service, and premium bedding.
Along with a full-service spa, this smoke-free guesthouse has a restaurant and a nightclub. Free buffet breakfast is provided, as well as free WiFi in public areas, free self parking, and a free beach shuttle. Other amenities include a bar/lounge, a poolside bar, and coffee/tea in a common area. All rooms are soundproofed and offer free WiFi and safes, flat-screen TVs come with cable channels, coffee makers.
This smoke-free hotel features a restaurant, 3 bars/lounges, and a conference center. Other amenities include self parking, coffee/tea in a common area, and a meeting room. All 19 individually decorated rooms feature free WiFi and room service. For a bit of entertainment, guests will find flat-screen TVs with cable channels, and other amenities include premium bedding and coffee makers.
Along with a microwave in a common area, this bed & breakfast has a computer station and express check-out. Free continental breakfast and free WiFi in public areas are also provided. Additionally, a garden, barbecue grills, and a picnic area are onsite. All 8 soundproofed rooms feature free WiFi and pillowtop beds. Comforts include Egyptian cotton sheets and down comforters