The Provincetown Community Compact welcomes swimmers, kayakers, volunteers, boaters and the public to participate in Provincetown, Wellfleet and hometown locations.
For those who feel overly challenged by the 1.2-mile Swim for Life route along Provincetown’s East End shoreline, the Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla fundraiser has created a second route beginning at the Town Landing beach at Atkins Lane (521 Commercial Street) to the Johnson Street beach: The Half-Mile Swim. A Swim for Life will also take place at Great Pond in Wellfleet.
Now in its 37th year, this legendary Swim for Life is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 2:30 pm. Registration is now open. All swimmers, kayakers and volunteers receive a 2024 Swim t-shirt designed by Tim Convery of Tim-Scapes, and an invite to the Mermaid Tea. Swimmers may also create a Swim Team.
“This shorter route will open up the event to younger participants and adults who want to test the waters for a less challenging swim,” stated Jay Critchley, director of the Provincetown Community Compact, Swim sponsor. “The Half-Mile Swim is another opportunity to Take the Plunge!” he added.
The public is invited to cheer the swimmers along the swim route and organize private Watch Parties. Official Swim Watch Parties will be at St. Mary of the Harbor and Mayo’s Cape Codder Guest House beach. Those unable to visit Provincetown may register to Swim in Place, wherever they may live.
Now in its 37th year, this anticipated event has a new headquarters at Johnson Street Beach on Provincetown Harbor where registration, the finish line and the Mermaid Tea will take place. For swimmer, kayaker and volunteer registration go to swim4life.org.
This post-Labor Day fundraiser, which has raised $6M+ for AIDS, women's health and the community since 1988, invites swimmers, volunteers, kayakers, boaters and the public to join this quintessential Provincetown tradition. The 2024 Swim design was created by Tim Convery of Tim-Scapes.
Compact Director and artist Jay Critchley added, “The Swim activates and honors the healing powers of the harbor and its bounty to the community. Let’s come together once again in a joyous celebration of the town that we all love and support.”
Beneficiaries of this year’s Swim for Life include: AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod (ASGCC), Helping Our Women (HOW), Outer Cape Health Services, Provincetown Rescue Squad Association, Soup Kitchen in Provincetown (SKIP), Provincetown Schools, The Compact Community Fund, Accessible Provincetown, West End Racing Club, Cape Cod Children’s Place, Native Land Conservancy, Lily House and Summer of Sass.
Registration is available online and open until Swim day, September 7, at Johnson Street Beach, also the location of the finish line for the Half-Mile Swim and the 1.2-mile East End shoreline swim route that starts at the beach at Snail Road. In line with the tide cycle, the events will start at 2:30 pm with transport to the Swim start provided by the Funk Bus. The famous Mermaid Tea will be catered by longtime event sponsor, Far Land Provisions, with music by Provincetown’s own, Zoe Lewis.
A freshwater Swim will be held at Great Pond in Wellfleet the morning of the harbor event and is limited to fifty swimmers. Swimmers across the country who are unable to join on the Cape are invited to swim virtually by Swimming In Place. During the 2020 pandemic, swimmers, bikers and paddlers participated and raised pledges in twenty-six states.
Business sponsors of the event include: Lead sponsor, Seamen’s Bank, Fanizzi’s Restaurant, Far Land Provisions Boatslip Resort & Beach Club, Lobster Pot Restaurant, Land’s End Foundation, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Cape Air, Bay State Cruise, Funk Bus, Berta Walker Gallery, Art’s Dune Tours, WOMR 92.1, Coyote Kayaks, Cranberry Square Dermatology, The Palette Fund, Premier Real Estate, Provincetown Part-time Resident Taxpayers Association, M. A. Frazier Disposal, Masthead Resort and Cottages, Sal’s Place, Harbor Dental Associates, Gramercy Park Foundation, Shor Home, My Employee Manager, Linchris and support from the Provincetown Tourism Fund.
The Provincetown Community Compact is a non-profit organization established in 1993 to nurture the Provincetown and Outer Cape community. Its mission is to enhance the well-being of the community through projects that incorporate the arts, the environment and the economy. It has birthed eight non-profits such as the Provincetown International Film Festival, the Tennessee Williams Theater Festival, Provincetown Commons, Summer of Sass, Tim McCarthy Human Rights Champion Fund and Pilgrim Bark Park. The results position The Compact as an economic generator
Jay Critchley
Founder & Director
Provincetown Community Compact
