'Lesbian spring break' brings thousands of women to Provincetown for Memorial Day weekend

Gwenn Friss, Cape Cod Times
Updated ·2 min read

Editor's note: This story was changed May 30 to correct the hours for Butch's, a new restaurant in Provincetown. The restaurant will serve an all-day menu Thursday through Tuesday, closed only on Wednesday.

In Provincetown, Memorial Day weekend is a time for women to gather, party and meet ― whether you are looking for friends or are single and looking to mingle.

Organizers expect “thousands” of women to visit this weekend for MemDayPtown, a weekend of parties, dining, entertainment and one very big boat ride.

“When I’m standing on top of that deck looking down, it’s such a wonderful thing to see all those women,” said Lynette Molnar, of Provincetown for Women, who along with Beth McGurr and Boston-based Lesbian Night Life has been co-hosting the Memorial Day weekend in Provincetown for 15 years.

Molnar continues, “We try to create opportunities for people to meet because so many people come from communities where they are the only (lesbian) person or one of a few or may even still be closeted.

“One of the goals is to create community for people and to have people feel connected.”

The Freedom Boat RIde leaves from MacMillan Wharf as it did in this photo from last year.
The Freedom Boat RIde leaves from MacMillan Wharf as it did in this photo from last year.

The MemDayPtown weekend started on its own as a sort of lesbian spring break when mostly young women flocked to Provincetown on Memorial Day, Molnar said.

“It sort of organically happened that Provincetown became a thing for young lesbians’ spring break for decades. We just formalized it about 15 years ago,” Molnar said.

McGurr said guests can buy a wristband online (from $107.63 to $215.26 at lesbiannightlife.com) for all six events or purchase ahead of time or at the door admission to any of the individual parties.

It all kicks off Thursday with a free opening reception from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Harbor Lounge. The Freedom Boat Party ($44.42) boards at MacMillan Pier at 11 a.m. Saturday and the Crown & Anchor pool party is noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

James Beard award-winning pastry chef Kelly Fields is opening a new concept restaurant May 25 at the Crown & Anchor in Provincetown.
James Beard award-winning pastry chef Kelly Fields is opening a new concept restaurant May 25 at the Crown & Anchor in Provincetown.

Brand new this year at the Crown & Anchor, and debuting the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, James Beard Award-winning chef Kelly Fields opens Butch’s. The concept restaurant will serve an all-day menu Thursdays through Tuesdays (closed only Wednesdays) with a focus on new salads, sandwiches and vegetable-focused entrees. That healthier menu plus a few more dishes will be served Saturdays and Sundays at the Crown & Anchor’s drag brunches with live performances.

Two other acts on the MemDayPtown schedule are dancers Seacoast Stilettos from Boston and burlesque act Les Vixens from Orlando, Florida.

Asked about an appropriate dress code for the weekend, organizers said people keep it casual for a beach town but, for Saturday’s party, “This Ain’t Texas,” a cowboy hat might fit in well.

Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts. Contact her at gfriss@capecodonline.com. Follow her or X, formerly Twitter: @dailyrecipeCCT

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: MemDayPtown: Parties, dining, entertainment and one very big boat ride