Bears Make Their Annual Pilgrimage to Provincetown

A couple of weeks ago all the pedicab drivers in Provincetown began bulking up, carbo-loading, doing calisthenics and leg presses at the local gyms, getting ready for Bear Week, the yearly event that brings hundreds upon hundreds of Bears to Provincetown to meet and socialize with other men like themselves. The New York Times has referred to them as a "subculture of gay men known as bears, who embrace natural body hair." Many are of considerable stature as well. Click this link to learn more about Bear Culture.
Bears are encouraged to register upon arrival in Provincetown, and that will provide them with dog tags that can be shown at many spots in town to receive discounts on meals, merchandise and other things at many, many participating restaurants and shops. 

There are also specials offered without the requirement of a tag, and many fun celebrations, in small ways, are part of this event that our town embraces every year. Look for things like special Bear Week meals at the Seafood Grille at the Waterford Inn, with an all-you-can-eat Fish and Chips dinner for just $18, among other meal deals celebrating this event. Sals restaurant is offering a five-course Bear meal or a three-course Cub meal at special prices. Red Eye Coffee is making giant cupcakes in various combinations of chocolate and vanilla cakes and frostings, decorated either with graham cracker teddy bears or gummy bears on top.

The Bear Pride Flag, often seen in PTown, waves from many flagpoles and doorways this week, pointing out special deals, or just welcoming the group.
The Bears also give back to the town each time they visit here, raising money  to support the local non-profit organizations in this town that is so supportive of Bear culture. The Fireman's Ball and the Uniform Ball raise funds for our volunteer fire department and for other non-profits. 
The first-ever screening of BearCity2, a romantic comedy about a Bear couple who come to Provincetown to get married during Bear Week, was held at Waters Edge Cinema, in the Whalers Wharf, with a special series of screenings continuing through Bear Week. See my review of this gem of a film by scrolling down these pages until you find it, or click this link to BearCity2.
Here are a few photos from Bear Week 2012.

Bears arrive by ferry, rolling their bags down Commercial Street

Bears roaming the town

Off to the pool

Three Bears having dinner at Goldilocks' place

Bears biking through PTown with pink flamingos fluttering behind

We look forward to Bear Week every summer, and have enjoyed having this amiable group here again this year. So long, boys... Be careful, and come back soon.