Women's Week Provincetown

Women's Week is Provincetown's big lesbian and queer women's festival, held every October once the summer crowds have left. It began in 1984. A group of women innkeepers, many of whom had bought and restored guesthouses in town, wanted to fill rooms in the slow fall season, so they wrote to past guests inviting them to a clambake on the beach over Columbus Day weekend. They called it Women's Weekend. It has since grown into a full week, and the 2026 programme lists more than 300 events.

The range is wide. There's comedy and concerts, plays by and about women, a local talent competition, author meet-and-greets and writing workshops, and gallery shows of women artists. Daytime options include football and golf tournaments, whale watches, dune tours and hikes. The opener is the Women's Tea Dance at the Provincetown Inn. Most shows are ticketed separately and the popular comedy and music nights sell out, so buy as soon as the schedule is published. Provincetown for Women publishes the schedule and is the place to check for updates.