'Smiling, furry men.' Bear Week in Provincetown brings huge wave of vacationers

Provincetown is preparing to welcome an invasion for Bear Week , running from July 13-20.

“ Bear Week in Provincetown remains the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ bears in the world. On July 13, tens of thousands of smiling, furry men will roll their luggage down Commercial Street to fill our guesthouses, restaurants, shops, and nightclubs for one of Ptown’s most sought-after vacation experiences,” emailed Trevor Pittinger executive director of the Provincetown Business Guild.

The guild produces Bear Week, working with the Provincetown Bears and Bearmania .

Nina West is back this year, headlining the event with “Where the Bears Are,” a town hall concert at 8:30 p.m. July 17.  Tickets start at $35 for those under 25 and go up to $135 for VIB (Very Important Bears) seating in the first three rows, with a meet-and-greet and free ticket to Friday’s Weiner Roast at the Brass Key guesthouse.

Drag Queen Nina West won Miss Congeniality on the 11th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and is now competing in the All-Stars contest for $200,000, which, if she wins, she has pledged to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit working for suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ young people. Prize money was donated by the Provincetown-based Palette Fund, which has given more than $10 million since 2008, according to Provincetown Business Guild spokeswoman Rachael Brister.

Other highlights of this year’s Bear Week include a new Gender Splash: Trans Inclusive Pool Party at noon July 18 at AWOL Hotel, 260 Commercial St. in Provincetown. All genders are welcome to the 21-and-older trans-centered party. Registration is required and a $10 donation is requested at the door. There are half-off ferry discounts available with Gender Splash registration.

Returning this year is, at noon July 16, the Otterpop Pool Party at the Crown & Anchor, hosted by Nina West, and, also at the Crown & Anchor, Bear Week BINGO at 1 p.m. July 14.

“Not only is Bear Week a boon to the local economy, but the spirit of self-love and community central to Bear Week’s ethos makes it a community favorite,” Pittinger said in his emailed comments.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 'Smiling, furry men.' Bear Week in Provincetown brings huge wave of vacationers