We’re just two weeks away from Family Week, the largest annual gathering of LGBTQ+ families in the world! What makes this event so special, and what keeps families coming back for more than 30 years? 

To answer these questions and more, Family Equality sat down with Sarah Moon, author of the new middle-grade novel, Family Week, and Dejon Campbell, Family Equality’s Senior Manager of Program Events. Together, we discussed the magic of Family Week, tips for first-timers, and more. 

Sarah Moon has been visiting Provincetown since she was ten years old. Her mother, who is also LGBTQ+, recognized the importance of introducing her to a space that felt safe and affirming. “It was the warmest, happiest, most welcoming, most exciting place I’d ever been,” recalled Sarah. “My little mind was blown. I’d never been around other queer families. I really thought we were the only ones, and so it was really exciting for me to be there.” 

During our event, she remembered how it felt to finally be…less special. “We’re from a very small town. I stood out like a sore thumb, as did my family. And then, we would go to Provincetown, and I was just a kid on a bike. A kid on a bike who would get stopped by my parents’ friends [to ask me how I was doing]. And I really appreciated that kind of love and care. I really value that Provincetown and Family Week are places where that [community] still exists.”

Sarah now takes her own child to Provincetown for some Family Week magic — and she’s not the only one! Last year alone, Family Week welcomed more than 600 families from across the globe to the Cape for a week of fun in the sun. 

With Family Week 2025 fast approaching, teams at Family Equality and COLAGE are working hard to bring you programming that is fun for the whole family. In our event, Dejon shared some highlights, including: 

If you’re debating joining us at Family Week — or if you’ve made your plans but are nervous, Dejon had one simple piece of advice: “Dive right in. It’s a magical week, and those aren’t just words. That is so, so true. There is something you’re going to experience at Family Week that you won’t experience anywhere else. So dive in. Don’t be scared. Do it.” 

Sarah acknowledged that it can be intimidating to jump in when it feels like so many people already know each other or, like her, have been going since the 1990s. “This is truly a place where people are really open to connection and to community. I think that if you sit on a beach and watch the town come to life, it’ll just bring you with it. There’s something that happens here that defies explanation and doesn’t actually demand that much of you other than your presence and your company.” 

One of the best ways to get involved in Family Week is by registering! Registering for Family Equality’s Family Week programming gets you access to communication about the week — including in-the-moment updates on events, schedules, and more. It also allows Family Equality to plan and prepare for the right amount of people. Noted Dejon, “We want to make sure that your family has a welcome bag. We want to make sure that you’re a part of this process!”

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, registering is the only way to get access to Family Equality’s events! Registration is 100% pay-what-you-can, so get started today!  

And, Sarah’s middle grade novel, Family Week, is available to purchase today — the perfect beach read for Family Week tweens and teens!