Provincetown Carnival
About This Event
Carnival is Provincetown's busiest gay week of the summer: eight days in the third week of August built around one costume theme and one parade. The Provincetown Business Guild started it in 1978 as a one-day event to fill a quiet August week, and it now takes over the whole town.
The parade is free and runs on Thursday afternoon, starting around 3pm near the Harbor Hotel and following Commercial Street through downtown to the West End. People put chairs out on the sidewalk early in the morning to hold a spot. The rest of the week is parties: the opening party at the Boatslip, the costume ball at the Crown & Anchor, tea dances and drag shows, mostly ticketed or with a cover. Guesthouses book out a year ahead and often require minimum stays, and the ferries from Boston fill up.
The Guild estimated 150,000 people on Commercial Street for the 2023 parade, as reported by the Provincetown Independent. That is the organizers' number for a town of under 4,000 year-round residents, and we found no independent count. The 48th Carnival ran 15 to 22 August 2026 under the theme Deep Sea Disco, with the parade on Thursday 20 August. The 2027 theme and dates hadn't been announced when we checked.
Parade Route
Where to stay during Provincetown Carnival
via Stay22Schedule & Sub-Events
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Heated Rival-Tea
Come dressed to play in jerseys and jocks. Resident DJ Maryalice runs the scoreboard.
The Real Housewives of Tea Dance
Wigs high, standards low, drama at 4. Come dressed to stir it up—resident DJ Maryalice runs the show.
I Love the 90S
Club anthems and guilty pop pleasures from the '90s and 2000s. ATTIRE: Come as you are
Pretty in Pink
Get pretty. Get pink. And dance like it’s 1985 with New Wave DJ, Chris Ewen (ManRay, Magnetic Fields).
Solid Gold Tea
Provincetown’s ultimate disco revival! Classic 70s and 80s dance hits remixed, remade and replayed by DJ Maryalice. Studio 54 meets Boogie Nights! ...
Dog Tag Tea
Grab your gear and report for dance floor duty! Get your souvenir Dog Tag at the door. ATTIRE: Camo, combat cool, or dog tag chic!
Cosmic Rodeo 2027 Carnival
🚀 Cosmic Rodeo is the 2027 Carnival Theme! Thank you to Qya Crystal for being so fabulous on that rocket ship. To pettykingsptown garrett.mov ka...
Heated Rival-Tea
Come dressed to play in jerseys and jocks. Resident DJ Maryalice runs the scoreboard.
The Real Housewives of Tea Dance
Wigs high, standards low, drama at 4. Come dressed to stir it up—resident DJ Maryalice runs the show.
I LOVE THE 90s - Carnival Week
Club anthems and guilty pop pleasures from the '90s and 2000s. ATTIRE: Come as you are
PRETTY IN PINK - Carnival Week
Get pretty. Get pink. And dance like it’s 1985 with New Wave DJ, Chris Ewen (ManRay, Magnetic Fields). ATTIRE: Pink!
Cosmic Disco Parade Day Tea
Provincetown’s ultimate disco revival! Classic 70s and 80s dance hits remixed, remade and replayed by DJ Maryalice. Studio 54 meets Boogie Nights! ...
Dog Tag Tea
Grab your gear and report for dance floor duty! Get your souvenir Dog Tag at the door. ATTIRE: Camo, combat cool, or dog tag chic!
Heated Rival-Tea
Come dressed to play in jerseys and jocks. Resident DJ Maryalice runs the scoreboard.
The Real Housewives of Tea Dance
Wigs high, standards low, drama at 4. Come dressed to stir it up—resident DJ Maryalice runs the show.
I Love the 90S
Club anthems and guilty pop pleasures from the '90s and 2000s. ATTIRE: Come as you are
Mrs Roper Goes to Tea
Calling all Helens and Stanleys! It’s a Roper Romp Boatslip-style. Join the mayhem. ATTIRE: Caftans, curls and cocktails!
Pretty in Pink
Get pretty. Get pink. And dance like it’s 1985 with New Wave DJ, Chris Ewen (ManRay, Magnetic Fields). ATTIRE: Pink!
Solid Gold Tea
Provincetown’s ultimate disco revival! Classic 70s and 80s dance hits remixed, remade and replayed by DJ Maryalice. Studio 54 meets Boogie Nights! ...
Dog Tag Tea
Grab your gear and report for dance floor duty! Get your souvenir Dog Tag at the door. ATTIRE: Camo, combat cool, or dog tag chic!
Practical Tips
Book a room months in advance — Carnival Week is the busiest stretch of the Ptown summer.
Stake out a spot on Commercial Street by early afternoon on Thursday; the parade route fills fast.
Leave the car in Truro or at the airport lot and use the shuttle — the West End is closed to traffic during the parade.
Videos
How Provincetown Became America's Gay Summer Capital
