Scarf Boys: "Carnival Parade" in P-Town.

Have you ever visited P-Town on Cape Cod ?
"P-Town" is the nickname for "Provincetown in Massachusetts."
I just got back from there, after the short visit to a friend in Cambridge.
It is located at the very tip end of Cape Cod. The very end of Route 6A. There is no place to go after P-Town, its the end of the road.
My first trip to P-Town was in the Summer of 1981. I remember I took the mid-night train to Boston from Penn Station. There were no Fast Amtrak Trains, nor morning trains early enough to catch the ferry at Boston.
Then I walked to the pier from South Station to catch the 8AM Boat.
The difference is that the pier was middle of nowhere. And Boston South Station was still in a very shady area. That area changed so much, it has become a happening area of Boston now, but it was almost scary back then.....
I remember that I had to follow close to people who looked like they're going to P-Town, so that I was not walking alone on the street in very early morning.
There was only 1 boat which took 4 hours to get to P-Town.
I got to the upper deck, find a spot to open a blanket to lay down for the long trip to P-Town. There were no seats, some people were putting sunscreen already.
( I believe that Slow Boat is still operating, but now we can also take the fast ferry, it takes only an hour and half, more than 3 ferries per day are scheduled durling the season.)
On the way to P-town in the middle of the water, the captain of the Boat made an announcement that he had to stop because a whale was passing in the ocean. As we waited for the whale to swim by. That beautiful creature came up to see what was happening above the water. It was the very first time I saw a whale. He jumped up from the water and flipped his fins, almost saying hello to us.
That was my very first boat trip to P-Town. I have been visiting there many times since then by plane, by car. But I love getting there by boat, maybe because I'm still waiting to have a welcome by a whale on the way again. By the way you can do "Whale Watching" up there which I've done many times as well.
Jonathan has friend, since their Art School years, who lives there year around with his legally married husband. We have been visiting them every summer. And the last 3 Summers were during Carnival Week.
The 3rd week of August is Carnival Week in P-Town every year. The "Parade" happens on Thursday late afternoon. I had forgotten how much fun the Carnival Week was until a few summers ago.
My first trip to P-Town was at Carnival Week without knowing it, and three summers ago we happen to visited during that week again by accident.
We had so much fun. Since that summer, our friend's couch is reserved for us every Carnival Week.

This time we had a chance to get to the East End of Town which becomes the staging area for the Parade.
I thought that it would be fun to see how people prepare.
The Parade would reach the middle of town 1~2 hours later.
On the way to the starting point, we even spotted men in costumes, a float with shiny blue fringe was driving along Route 6A.
We knew, we were not too late to see the gathering.....

Red Costumed Men or Women are hurrying to the start.

Floats are ready for Parade.

Before the Parade starts, must have a picture taken !

Hurrying to the Hospital ?

Put a WIG on, ready for start !

2 Lizas, Divine, Bette, and who and who, only in P-Town.

Police Bikes are heading for the starting line !

Must have Flags for escort.

One and only "CHARO"

This year's Grand Marshall for the Parade.

After seeing the Pre-Parade, we had to get back to the spot where we were meeting friends.

It is a perfect spot on Commercial Street, almost at the center of town. People who own the upstairs condo, put great decorations according to each year's theme. This year's theme was "Can't Stop The Music" They play loud Music to go with it. Even if the Parade hasn't reached town yet, the party has started already. People on the sides of the street were dancing and singing with the Music.
Songs from "Glee" to "Sonny & Cher".....