Cheap Thrills In Provincetown
Written by Carmen da Silva, Associate Director, Provincetown Business Guild
It may be more challenging to afford the price of eggs right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the best-kept secrets and cheap thrills of Provincetown. There are plenty of free and affordable activities, theater, dining, art, and exploration to enjoy year-round. Here are a few of the must-try favorites.
Please check individual business websites for updates, as business hours, offerings, and pricing may change.
Art & Theater
Art Gallery Strolls & Feminist Stoop Readings: Friday nights in town are abuzz with late-night activity, but especially in the East End, where the Provincetown Art Association & Museum’s (PAAM) entry is free from 5-8 pm. Many galleries often keep their doors open later into the evening on Fridays as well, inviting you in with lively receptions and wine tastings. Womencrafts hosts Feminist Stoop Readings on Friday nights as well. For additional art events visit Provincetown Art Gallery Association and the Provincetown Arts Society.
Cody Plays: This community-driven theatre production calls the Gifford House home and offers a donation-based entry for their monthly Monday night shows.
Fine Art Works Center: The Fine Art Works Center hosts a variety of free, year-round, public programming, including Fellow Fridays, poetry readings, open mic nights, artist talks, and more.
Self-Guided Public Art Tour: Take a wander down the pier to view the Provincetown Public Art Foundation’s newest murals and go exploring for additional pieces they’ve recently commissioned around town.
Twenty Summers: Twenty Summers is a month-long festival in late Spring featuring a series of free and low-cost performances, installations, conversations, and workshops held in the Hawthorne Barn.
Dining
Breakfast: Start your day right at Bagel Hound, Joe’s Coffee, or the Portuguese Bakery, where you can still walk away with a breakfast sandwich for less than $8.
Lunch & Picnic Fare: For a bougie lunch, treat yourself to Vorelli’s Kobe-style Wagyu beef burger for just $18.95 or pack a beach picnic on a dime with tasty salads, sandwiches, and snacks from Angel Foods, East End Market, Far Land Provisions, and Salty Market.
Seafood Happy Hour: For a great deal on bivalves, don’t miss Mac’s Seafood, Red Inn, and Victor’s. All three local hotspots offer seafood-focused happy hours, including options like half-priced oysters, shrimp, and clams.
Dinner: Delicious fine dining for less can be enjoyed at Victor’s on prix-fixe Mondays for just $28 or any day of the week at Fanizzi’s with a view! Fanizzi’s Early Bird Dinners are served daily between 4:30 - 5:30 pm for just $20.99 and include options like fresh mussels over linguine, pan-seared salmon, and steak tips. Thursday nights are for ‘All You Can Eat Fish & Chips’ at Mac’s Seafood from 4 -8:30 pm for a mere $20.99.
Entertainment & Activities
Free Hidden Treasures: Two of the most unique hidden treasures of Provincetown include a half-scale replica of the Rose Dorothea Schooner built inside the Provincetown Library and available to enjoy for free during Library hours. In addition, you’ll want to visit the off-the-beaten-path Spinnaker Exhibit. This impressive exhibit features a fully preserved skeleton of an 11-year-old humpback whale, housed at the Center for Coastal Studies, open to the public Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 1-4 pm or by appointment.
History With A View: The Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum (PMPM) offers a great, low-cost cost and family-friendly attraction. The lobby museum is always free and features an exhibit on the complicated relationship between the Indigenous Wampanoag and the Mayflower Pilgrims, as well as an anecdotal LGBTQ+ history of the last century of Provincetown. Entry to the Monument itself is $20, $16 for Seniors, Veterans & Active Duty, and children (13-17). Children (4-12) are $9, and a special adult joint package ticket is $30, which includes entry to the PMPM and PAAM.
Live Shows & Karaoke: Many live shows sans cover charge can be found year-round and all over town in popular venues like Tin Pan Alley, the Post Office Cabaret, Piano Bar at the Crown & Anchor, and no visit to Provincetown is complete without a visit to Drag Queen Karaoke at the Governor Bradford.
Outdoor Adventures
Bike Trails & Beaches: Biking and hiking trails abound in the National Seashore and offer some of the most spectacular coastal views and nature trails on Cape. Borrow or rent a bike from Coast Provincetown or Ptown Bikes and take the afternoon to explore everything from Boy Beach to the Beech Forest and Herring Cove to Race Point.
Hiking & Lighthouses: The Provincetown Causeway, or the ‘Breakwater’ as it is more commonly called by locals, is a must-visit attraction on the West End. You’ll find the Breakwater rock wall jetting out into the bay from across First Landing Park, a site commemorating the arrival of the Pilgrims on the Cape in 1620. This causeway is just over a mile from the West End to the Wood End Lighthouse, and with no shade covering, this slightly challenging hike is best enjoyed with sunscreen protection, a water bottle, and proper footwear. Should you prefer to take in the views from a less strenuous vantage point, hop aboard the Long Point Shuttle operated by Flyer’s Boat Rental for $25 per person round-trip (cash only).
Sunrises & Sunsets to Remember: Provincetown’s sunrises and sunsets are arguably among the most spectacular in the world. Why not enjoy them from a paddleboard or kayak? Coyote Kayak offers incredible guided tours at all times of day, including a Salt Marsh Eco tour, Boy Beach Paddle, and daytime rentals starting at just $30.