As the busy stretch of summer on Cape Cod gives way to ‘shoulder season,’ it’s a more laidback time of year, with fewer crowds at local beaches and restaurants and a quieter scene as fall sets in. The autumn light is stunning along the miles of dunes and Cape Cod Bay, making the downtown Provincetown district near the marina even more picturesque, setting the stage for an enchanting Provincetown Halloween.

In addition to the laidback atmosphere and natural beauty, late October on the outer Cape comes to life with the many Provincetown Halloween festivities. The calendar is packed with nightly costume balls, parties on every block, an esteemed and appropriately dark-themed theater production, and lively late-night carousing along Commercial St. 

Pack your costumes and make our Provincetown bed and breakfast your home base for your Halloween getaway – you’ll be within walking distance of all the best events, perfect for people-watching or joining in the frightful fun and costumed revelry!

Pumpkin decorations on a plant box

Kicking Off Provincetown Halloween Weekend – Costume Shopping, A Free Art Exhibit, and World-Class Theater

Because Halloween falls on a Tuesday in 2023, most Halloween-related festivities in town occur during the preceding weekend. If you don’t have a costume yet or want to add some flair to your outfit, start the weekend by stopping in at House of La Rue (just a 5-minute walk away from our location), which holds a Halloween costume sale beginning Friday, 10/27. With their tagline, “fashion for stars and those who like to dress like them,” you’ll find wigs, props, headdresses, makeup, and various glam styles and looks. Afterward, grab some lunch next store at Cafe Heaven, a fave of both locals and P-Town visitors – choose from eight types of egg benedicts, brioche french toast, or poached eggs on lobster hash, made with lobster as fresh as you’ll find anywhere. 

Spend the early evening taking advantage of the Free Friday Night (starting at 5 pm) at Provincetown Art Association and Museum – a current exhibit, up through November 12th, 2023, explores our legendary Art Colony and is an excellent introduction to Provincetown’s important and century-old role as an artistic haven. Grab some dinner at one of the many restaurants along Commercial St. – two of our favorites are the Mews and Tin Pan Alley, both of which have wide-ranging “New American” cuisine with exceptional seafood and locally sourced ingredients – before heading to Another Medea, a theater production at the historic Provincetown Theater. The “one-man thriller” features Broadway veteran actor Tom Hewitt and takes the stage (directly across the street from Gabriel’s) over two weekends (10/20-22 and 10/27-29), a special treat to have a slice of New York’s best theater right here in Provincetown. Referencing the ancient Medea myth while placing the play in modern times, the production zeroes in on obsession, among other dark themes, ideally suited for Halloween.

Dance Parties and Costume Balls Along Commercial St and Just Blocks Away

The big Halloween Cape Cod night in 2023 is Saturday (10/28) – almost every bar in Provincetown has its version of a spooky soiree. With their multiple event rooms and performance stages, the Crown and Anchor will have several events that night, including the “Dead Diva” party at 7:30 p.m. If you want to party into the night, check out their costume ball starting at 9 p.m., which features $1,000 in costume contest prizes and a DJ spinning tunes for the sure-to-be-wild dance party.

Just a block up from Crown and Anchor on Commercial St, the Red Room bar and nightclub hosts their third annual “Possessed” costume party, with two floors to dance and mingle, each with a fitting Halloweenesque theme – the “graveyard” and “catacombs.” Before the hours of festive fun (the party goes from 10 pm – 1 am), get some sushi or pizza next door at JD’s Raw Bar – their outdoor patio is an excellent perch for checking out the parade of costumes flowing by below on Commercial St.

pumpkins alongside the pathway

A Laidback Sunday at the Beach, Brunch on the Bay, and More Fall Events Soon to Follow

After a late Provincetown Halloween Saturday night, start your Sunday with a relaxing visit to Race Point Beach. Usually packed during the summer, you’ll have the miles-long majestic dunes to yourself, with just the sound of the crashing waves and singing seabirds. Another added plus is that there are no visitor fees to the Cape Cod National Seashore after Labor Day, so visiting the beaches within the expansive 45,000-acre national park during your Halloween getaway is free. Drive or bike back into town for the “Say Boo” Halloween-themed brunch at Crown and Anchor, or get lunch with a view overlooking the harbor at the Canteen – biting into one of their lobster rolls (which have ¼ pound of lobster each) while sipping on a housemade bloody mary is a delicious and perfect way to unwind from a wild weekend. 

Not long after we stash away the Halloween costumes and head into late fall, it will soon be time for the annual lighting of the Provincetown Monument in mid-November, followed by the charming and festive holiday season in town.

Stay with us, get your spookiest and wackiest costumes ready, and join us for the endlessly fun and always entertaining Provincetown Halloween festivities!