First Light Provincetown 2023

First Light Provincetown New Year’s Eve Festival 2023

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