Check out the hunky and hairy men of Bear Week Provincetown 2025
“PTown Bear Week is not just a party, it is a homecoming.”
Mark
Bear Week Provincetown is one of the busiest weeks in the P’town summer season. The event attracts big boys, gay bears and otters from all over the world.
The small US town, at the farthest point of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is a gay-friendly destination all year round. However, it really comes into its own in the summer months. Even if you’re not there for an event week, it offers an enchanting getaway unlike anywhere else in the US.
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
It’s helpful that the place offers a way-above-average number of gay bars and guesthouses for somewhere of this size.
Organized by Provincetown Bears, this year’s Bear Week was the 25th such event. Running from 12–19 July, what people like about the festival is that it’s not all about partying.
Yes, there are daily parties around the pool at the Boatslip Resort, as well as dance events at the Crown & Anchor, such as the Otter Pop Pool Party and Wiener Roast. However, there’s also beach outings, nature walks, a bear market, and more besides.
And after the clubs close? Those with the energy and hunger all head to the block party outside Spiritus Pizza.
Related
What to expect your first time visiting Provincetown
When you stay in Provincetown, you leave all of America behind you.
The organizers are careful not to pack too much into the schedule. This leaves attendees free to explore the other delights of Provincetown, from its history and restaurants to other LGBTI attractions.
“A big, burly family reunion”
Joe, a British man currently living in New York City, told GayCities he was visiting Provincetown for the first time. He considered it a super cute vacation destination. As for Bears Week, “I was expecting it to feel a lot more like Sitges Bear Week, which can be very overwhelming. But actually it’s a bigger town and so much easier to dip in and out of the bear week stuff. I had a couple of days that were so chill, visiting bookshops, going to an empty beach, having a nice meal. Also, the temperature at the moment in New York is bonkers, so it was a really nice welcome respite.”
Joseph Williams (@itsmejojoe1), from Raleigh, NC, told us, “Provincetown during Bear Week is a big, burly family reunion. A celebration of queer joy and body positivity. You get to reconnect with chosen family and make unexpected new friends. You feel completely at home in a sea of fur. There is no better place to be your full, unfiltered self.
“From dancing shirtless at Tea, flirting on Commercial Street, or swapping stories: PTown Bear Week is not just a party, it is a homecoming. Does not matter if you are there for the parties, the beach, or the bonds, you will leave fuller than when you arrived and not just from the food.
“My home away from home”
James Robertson (@jbling1218) from Albany, NY, echoed this sentiment: “I love Provincetown, especially during Bear Week, because I can come here and just exist and feel loved no matter my size. I can show up to a pool party in a Speedo where I’m praised and uplifted. It’s my home away from home.”
With thanks to @jenzeephotos – jenzeephotos.com
Related
6 iconic Provincetown gay bars you must visit on your next trip
Parties, pools and so many bars to choose from! See why Provincetown is the East Coast’s fave gay enclave.
Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.
