Chincoteague Island Events

It’s easy to find reasons to celebrate on amazing Chincoteague Island! Our little slice of heaven hosts everything from our famous Pony Swim to our one-of-a-kind Oyster Festival, and you’re always invited to join in the festivities. Check out these upcoming events on C.I. for 2022 and get ready to have some fun! Need help planning your getaway around an event? Give us a call - we’re always here to help, and no one knows our Island better than we do! Find your perfect vacation home and get ready to make some amazing memories.

Rocket Lab Electron Rocket Launch


Location NASA Wallops Flight Facility

Rocket Lab USA will launch an electron rocket from NASA Wallops on Wednesday, March 20th! The launch window hasn't been announced quite yet, so check back regularly for updates!

43rd Annual Easter Decoy & Art Festival


Location Chincoteague Combined School Time Starts: 12:00 PM
The Easter Decoy & Art Festival is held annually to celebrate the rich history and craft of decoy carving here on Chincoteague. Local and National decoy carvers, artists of all kinds, photographers, sculptors, and more will gather at Chincoteague Combined School to exhibit and sell their work. Exhibitors are able to carve and create on site, and are always eager to talk bout their passion for their art.  Come eager to learn from the finest, and purchase some of their works to take a little piece of Chincoteague home with you! Admission is $5.00 each day, and Children under 12 are FREE! This event features awards in a multitude of categories including Children's Choice Awards, People's Choice Awards (Best Carver and Best Artist), Best Photograph, and the highest honor at the event, the Curtis Merritt Award of Excellence.  Wooden Easter Eggs are also hand-carved and painted/embellished by exhibitors, then sold through a silent auction to the highest bidder.  ...

Spring Round Up


The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company holds its annual Spring Round Up to our famous wild ponies' health and to identify any new foals born since Pony Penning week. Buy Backs from last year's auction are also released back onto Assateague at this time to join the remainder of the herd.  _____________________ The Spring Round Up schedule for 2024 is as follows: South Herd: April 5th at 4:30 PM North Herd: April 6th at 6:00 AM The Friday Afternoon Round Up typically takes 1-2 hours, but the ponies remain in the South Pen overnight, making it a great opportunity to grab photos of your favorite ponies. The Saturday Morning Round Up for the Northern Herd typically takes 5-6 hours due to the number of ponies and amount of ground that has to be covered to round them up....

Solar Eclipse


Experience the upcoming total solar eclipse from the beach on April 8th, 2024! 

NASA Rocket Launch


NASA's Wallops Flight Facility will launch 3 Black Brant IX sounding rockets on April 8th, 2024! Scheduled launch window is 2:40 PM - 4:05 PM with the rockets set to launch approximately 45 minutes apart.

Chincoteauge Seafood Festival 2024


Chincoteague's Annual Seafood Festival is held the first Saturday in May each year to promote the local seafood industry. Fresh, local seafood throughout the day includes little neck clams, raw oysters, single fried oysters, fried fish, steamed shrimp, and much more! The festival also offers a salad bar, grilled chicken, sweet potato fries, boardwalk fries, hushpuppies, and cornbread. Nonalcoholic beverages are included with the ticket price, and beer is available for purchase throughout the day. Festival favorite, Front Page News, will provide live entertainment for everyone's listening and dancing enjoyment.  The festival also features an Arts & Crafts tent featuring handmade creations from local artists. Tickets for the Seafood Festival are $60.00 Per Person. Children under 5 are FREE! Festival Schedule: 10:00 AM - Gates Open! 11:00 AM - Appetizer Tents Begin Serving (Clam Chowder, Salad Bar, Boardwalk Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Hushpuppies, Cornbread, Grilled Chicken) 12:00 PM - Live Music Begins & Seafood Tents Begin Serving (Raw Oysters, Raw Clams, Steamed Clams, Single Fried Oysters, Fried Fish, Steamed Shrimp, Clam Fritters, Crab Cheddar Jalapeno Poppers  4:00 PM - Festival Ends...

National Parks Free Entrance Day


Location Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Time Starts: 5:00 AM ‐ Ends: 10:00 PM

Mark your calendar for a fee free day at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge! Catch an Assateague Sunrise or Sunset, Take a stroll through one of the nature trails, enjoy wildlife watching and more this Juneteenth!

2024 Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company Carnival


Location Chincoteague, VA
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's Carnival returns for its 99th Year! Fun, Food, Games, Raffles, and Live Music await you at the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds located on Main St. Fun for the entire family, the carnival features rides and games for the young and young at heart, while also offering your favorite foods including oyster and clam fritters, crab cakes, burgers, hotdogs, pizza, pony fries, ice cream, funnel cakes, and more! Carnival Dates (7 PM - 11 PM nightly) are currently listed as: 6/28 6/29 7/4 (Firworks at 10 PM!) 7/5 7/6 7/19 7/20 7/22 7/23 7/24 7/25 7/26 7/27 ...

Music at the Dock


Location Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park Time Starts: 6:00 PM
Join Seaside Vacations & The Chincoteague Cultural Alliance for our series of FREE summer concerts at beautiful Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park in Chincoteague's historic downtown.  On Saturday, July 6th, Salisbury Community Band will return to Chincoteague to help us celebrate America's Birthday! With a range of lively music from patriotic songs to show tunes, their performances are always fun for the entire family! Other Dates for FREE concerts: 7/13: Hazey Daiseys 7/20: Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys 7/27: Fab 2, 3, 4 (Beatles Tribute Band) 8/3: Front Page News 8/10: TBD 8/17: TBD 8/24: Cane Mill Rd 8/31: Caribbean American International Steel Orchestra (CAISO)...

Music at the Dock - Hazey Daiseys


Location Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park Time Starts: 6:00 PM
Join Seaside Vacations & The Chincoteague Cultural Alliance for our series of FREE summer concerts at beautiful Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park in Chincoteague's historic downtown.  On Saturday, July 13th, Hazey Daiseys will perform at Robert Reed Park. Fun for the entire family, you'll want to arrive early for this amazing night! Don't forget your lawn chairs or blankets! Other Dates for FREE concerts: 7/6: Salisbury Community Band 7/20: Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys 7/27: Fab 2, 3, 4 (Beatles Tribute Band) 8/3: Front Page News 8/10: TBD 8/17: TBD 8/24: Cane Mill Rd 8/31: Caribbean American International Steel Orchestra (CAISO)...

2024 South Herd Round Up


Location Assateague Island
The first major event before the World Famous Pony Swim, The South Herd Round Up draws quite a crowd itself as the Saltwater Cowboys will ride out to the southern end of Assateague to round up more than 50 ponies! Visitors are able to view the arrival of the South Herd at the Southern Corral on Beach Road. The ponies will remain here Saturday - Tuesday for photos and viewing. ...

Music at the Dock - Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys


Location Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park Time Starts: 6:00 PM
Join Seaside Vacations & The Chincoteague Cultural Alliance for our series of FREE summer concerts at beautiful Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park in Chincoteague's historic downtown.  Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys will return to Chincoteague July 20th! A great band from right here on the Eastern Shore, this band performs their own brand of music, often referred to as "beach country." Don't forget your lawn chairs or blankets! Other Dates for FREE concerts: 7/6: Salisbury Community Band 7/13: Hazey Daiseys 7/27: Fab 2, 3, 4 (Beatles Tribute Band) 8/3: Front Page News 8/10: TBD 8/17: TBD 8/24: Cane Mill Rd 8/31: Caribbean American International Steel Orchestra (CAISO)...

2024 North Herd Round Up


Location Assateague Island Time Starts: 6:00 AM
Following the South Herd Round Up, the North Herd Round Up concludes the Chincoteague Pony Round Ups. Our Famous Saltwater Cowboys will ride across the northern end of Assateague Island to herd between 100 and 150 ponies! This event is NOT open to the public for the safety of the ponies and people....

2024 Chincoteague Pony Beach Walk


Location Assateague Island
One of the most popular events of Pony Penning Week, the Beach Walk will take place July 22nd for 2024. North meets South as our Saltwater Cowboys release the North Herd at daybreak, and parade them along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean to join the South Herd in the South Corral.  It is advised to be at Assateague Island National Seashore by 6 AM for parking purposes for this spectacular event. Bring your beach gear and stay for the day, or follow the ponies and Cowboys to the corral for a peek at your favorite ponies!...

99th Annual Pony Swim


Location Chincoteague, Virginia
The 99th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim will take place July 24th at slack tide. (A more precise timeframe will be announced closer to the day of the Swim.) A must see event for any pony lover, Chincoteague's Annual Pony Swim and Carnival have been captivating visitors from around the globe for nearly 100 years! Watch as our World Famous Saltwater Cowboys guide the wild ponies from Assateague Island, across the Channel, to Chincoteague! After resting, the ponies are paraded to the carnival grounds, where the foals are auctioned the following day. ...

Music at the Dock - Fab 2,3,4


Location Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park Time Starts: 6:00 PM
Join Seaside Vacations & The Chincoteague Cultural Alliance for our series of FREE summer concerts at beautiful Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park in Chincoteague's historic downtown.  Join locals and visitors alike for a fun filled day in the park! Fab 2, 3, 4 is an electrifying Beatles Tribute Band that will be playing all of our favorite anthems from yesteryear. Don't forget your lawn chairs and blankets! Other Dates for FREE concerts: 7/6: Salisbury Community Band 7/13: Hazey Daiseys 7/20: Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys 8/3: Front Page News 8/10: TBD 8/17: TBD 8/24: Cane Mill Rd 8/31: Caribbean American International Steel Orchestra (CAISO)...

Music at the Dock - Front Page News


Location Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park Time Starts: 6:00 PM
Join Seaside Vacations & The Chincoteague Cultural Alliance for our series of FREE summer concerts at beautiful Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park in Chincoteague's historic downtown.  Other Dates for FREE concerts: 7/6: Salisbury Community Band 7/13: Hazey Daiseys 7/20: Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys 7/27: Fab 2, 3, 4 (Beatles Tribute Band) 8/10: TBD 8/17: TBD 8/24: Cane Mill Rd 8/31: Caribbean American International Steel Orchestra (CAISO) ...

Music at the Dock - Cane Mill Rd


Location Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park Time Starts: 6:00 PM
Join Seaside Vacations & The Chincoteague Cultural Alliance for our series of FREE summer concerts at beautiful Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park in Chincoteague's historic downtown.  Renowned blue grass band Cane Mill Rd features Chincoteague's own Colton Kerchner! You won't want to miss this night of family fun! Don't forget your lawn chairs or blankets! Other Dates for FREE concerts: 7/6: Salisbury Community Band 7/13: Hazey Daiseys 7/20: Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys 7/27: Fab 2, 3, 4 (Beatles Tribute Band) 8/3: Front Page News 8/10: TBD 8/17: TBD 8/24: Cane Mill Rd 8/31: Caribbean American International Steel Orchestra (CAISO)...

Music at the Dock - Caribbean American International Steel Orchestra (CAISO)


Location Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park Time Starts: 6:00 PM
Join Seaside Vacations & The Chincoteague Cultural Alliance for our series of FREE summer concerts at beautiful Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park in Chincoteague's historic downtown.  Renowned blue grass band Cane Mill Rd features Chincoteague's own Colton Kerchner! You won't want to miss this night of family fun! Don't forget your lawn chairs or blankets! Other Dates for FREE concerts: 7/6: Salisbury Community Band 7/13: Hazey Daiseys 7/20: Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys 7/27: Fab 2, 3, 4 (Beatles Tribute Band) 8/3: Front Page News 8/10: TBD 8/17: TBD 8/24: Cane Mill Rd ...

Fall Round Up


The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company holds its annual Fall Round Up to check our famous wild ponies' health and to identify any new foals born since Pony Penning week. _____________________ The Fall Round Up schedule for 2024 is as follows: South Herd: September 20th at 4:30 PM North Herd: September 21st at 6:00 AM The Friday Afternoon Round Up typically takes 1-2 hours, but the ponies remain in the South Pen overnight, making it a great opportunity to grab photos of your favorite ponies. The Saturday Morning Round Up for the Northern Herd typically takes 5-6 hours due to the number of ponies and amount of ground that has to be covered to round them up....

Cork & Craft


The 9th Annual Cork & Craft Festival will be held Saturday, September 28th from 11:30 AM - 5 PM! Featuring craft beer, wine, vendors, and live music by Front Page News, this festival is open to the public! Tickets will be required to enjoy (More information on purchasing tickets will be announced closer to the event)...

2024 Oyster Festival


Location Chincoteague, Virginia
The Chincoteague Oyster Festival is held annually to promote the local seafood industry and mark the arrival of oyster season! Join us as we celebrate all things seafood with raw and steamed oysters, oyster fritters, single fried oysters, clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, a salad bar, hot dogs, hush puppies, and boardwalk fries!  Non-alcoholic beverages are included in the ticket price, with beer available to purchase. Festival favorite, Island Boy, will provide live entertainment beginning at Noon. Festival Schedule: 10:00 AM - Gates Open 11:00 AM - Appetizer Tents Begin Serving (Clam Chowder, Shrimp Cocktail, Salad Bar, Boardwalk Fries, Hush Puppies, Hot Dogs) 12:00 PM - Live Music Begins & Seafood Tents Begin Serving (Raw Oysters, Steamed Oysters, Single Fried Oysters, Oyster Fritters, Clam Fritters) 4:00 PM - Festival Ends...