Did You Know ‘Trans Week, The Original Fantasia Fair’ Is Provincetown’s Longest-Running Theme Week? Register Now!

Register for Transgender Week 2022 – Oct 16-23 

Not only is Fantasia Fair Provincetown’s longest-running theme week, but this historic town-wide event, ‘part learning experience, part social gathering, part reunion,’ is the longest running transgender event in the world, and has served as a model for subsequent trans events since its inaugural year (outdating even the Provincetown Business Guild’s inception in 1978!) The Provincetown community is proud to host such an historic event that has spanned generations and helped to edify the lives of thousands of trans and gender non-conforming members, hand in hand with the evolution of the rest of LGBTQ+ Provincetown.

“Provincetown was picked as the host city because of its reputation for tolerance and because it was a center of gay and lesbian culture,” mentions Fantasia Fair’s historical page. Our town’s roots as refuge for different letters of the queer community runs deep, and remains as vital as ever as Transgender Week returns in 2022. Make sure to visit the Fantasia Fair website for a full list of event offerings, opportunities to propose workshops, advertise, or even apply for scholarships! 

Registration, 1987. Photo by Emily Sheldon

Unlike most transgender conferences, Fantasia Fair is not confined to a single hotel. Events and meals are in multiple locations, and attendees choose lodging at any of hundreds of inns and bed and breakfasts. Many develop friendly relationships with their innkeepers. Some attendees join together to rent houses and condos, which not only saves them money but allow them to host parties and late-night get-togethers and for friends and fellow Fairgoers.

Every day is filled with activities and events to inspire, educate, and entertain. There are workshops mornings and afternoons, with topics ranging from gender theory and transgender history and politics to personal grooming and voice training. Keynote speakers following every lunch, and there are special events every evening, like the Fashion Show, Follies, and Transgender Pioneer and Fantasia Fair Awards Banquets. Attendees learn from community leaders, helping professionals, and your peers in formal and informal situations.

Provincetown is a safe and friendly location with a strong LGBT community, and the town treasures and protects Fairgoers. Fair attendees are on the streets at all times of day and night, without incident. Venues are within walking distance of one another, and most attendees park their cars and walk from event to event. That gives them a chance to shop at the hundreds of boutiques and browse the dozens of galleries along Commercial Street. Many Fairgoers climb the soaring Pilgrim Monument for an aerial view.

Donate to Transgender Week – your donation will help continue the Fair’s mission to provide gender non-conforming people opportunities to attend – OR find out how you can volunteer!

For a full list of annual Provincetown events check out the PBG’s Calendar here, and be sure to follow us on Instagram at @VisitPtown to stay up to date! 

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