Provincetown is a wonderful place to live and visit year-round, but there is something special about spring. As the quiet and beauty of winter blooms into springtime, Provincetown begins to shift towards thoughts of summer and all it brings. There are a few key indicators that winter is over and spring has sprung! As the town’s population grows and the dynamism of the summer season approaches, look for these signs that Provincetown is heating up.
Take to the Water Aboard A Whale Watch
Provincetown was once a bustling whaling port town, second only to New Bedford and Nantucket in wealth generated by hunting these gentle giants. But that’s ancient history and Provincetown has the distinction of being the first spot on the East Coast to offer commercial whale watches seeking to educate the general public as to how we can all help protect these amazing marine mammals. The Dolphin Fleet Whale Watches begin running every mid-April, one of the earliest signs of spring in Provincetown.
The Return of the Fast Ferries
Another sign of spring is when the ferries from Boston begin connecting the Cape tip across Cape Cod Bay every mid-May. The blast of each ferry’s horn lets you know whenever one is departing or arriving in Provincetown Harbor. This year we expect the first ferries to pull into Port on May 16th.
Two companies – Bay State Cruise Company and Boston Harbor Cruises – offer fast ferry service connecting Boston and Provincetown with a quick 90 minute ride. It’s a stress free, beautiful way to arrive in Provincetown. And they have a bar so your vacation can begin by boarding!
The First Issue of Provincetown Magazine
Publishing since 1977, Provincetown Magazine is the go-to guide in town for all that is going on in arts, culture and entertainment. When the first issue of the season hits stands around the Outer Cape in mid-April you know “the season” has begun.
With interviews with everyone from Miss Richfield 1981 to Patti LuPone to Tony Kushner to John Waters, Provincetown Magazine covers it all, starting in April and wrapping up with a special holiday issue just before Thanksgiving.
Catching Up at Joe Coffee
There’s lots of places to grab a cup of joe, but Joe Coffee has become a local hot spot not just for its caffeine boost, but the company. When Joe Coffee reopens after its winter slumber and the weather is warm enough, patrons enjoy their coffee on the outdoor patio overlooking Commercial Street. There, old friends reconnect and perhaps share a little benign gossip. It’s a sure sign of spring when friends call ‘hello’ from Joe.
Restaurant Opening Parties All Around Town!
A beloved tradition in Provincetown each spring is the opening parties thrown by restaurants opening for the season. Between early April and mid-May many new restaurants welcome the community in to try samples of new menus and cocktails while longtime favorites like Victor’s, the Red Inn and Patio celebrate the beginning of another year.
Going to all these opening parties is not only a great way to learn the new offerings for the season, but also to reconnect with friends as well as make new ones. There is perhaps no more popular springtime tradition in Provincetown than popping into these events all across town!
