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.

Indoor Holiday Craft Fair


Location Chincoteague Center

You'll want to make your way over to the Chincoteague Center November 23rd for the Indoor Holiday Craft Fair! Take a little piece of Chincoteague home with you to add to your holiday cheer!

Hours: 10 AM - 4 PM

Holiday Tree Lighting


Location Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park Time Starts: 5:00 PM
The Historic Main Street Merchants Annual Holiday Tree Lighting returns for 2024 for a night filled with holiday music, shopping, and the magic of the holidays! The Chincoteague Pony Drill Team will perform, while Toy Donations will be accepted for the Accomack County Sheriff Department's "Stuff the Car" toy drive!  Face Painting will be available from 4:30 - 5:30 PM...

Chincoteague Old Fasioned Christmas Parade


Location Historic Main Street
Gather your family and friends, and come experience the holiday magic like never before at Chincoteague Island's annual Christmas Parade! A beloved island tradition, the parade brings locals and visitors together year after year for a night filled with holiday cheer, twinkling lights, and the true spirit of the season. Local businesses and organizations will deck their floats (and boats!) with sparkling lights, holiday themes, and island charm, local bands will add to the atmosphere with their festive tunes, and Santa Claus himself will make an appearance!...

Easter Decoy & Art Festival


Location Chincoteague Combined School
The 44th Annual Easter Decoy & Art Festival will take place April 18th and 19th. Held annually to celebrate the rich history and craft of decoy carving, the Decoy & Art Festival features various types of artists including photographers, sculptors, local and national decoy carvers, and so much more! Come ready to chat with the artists about their work, and purchase fine art, photographs, sculptures, jewelry, stained glass, pottery, etc. to take home! Awards are given in multiple categories, and children are given a Children's Choice Award ribbon upon entry to present to their favorite artist. Admission is $5 daily. Children under 12 are FREE! Hours: Friday, April 18th: Noon to 5:00 PM Saturday, April 19th: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM ...

55th Annual Seafood Festival


Location Tom's Cove Park Time Starts: 10:00 AM ‐ Ends: 4:00 PM
The 55th Annual Seafood Festival will take place Saturday, May 3rd! Held annually to promote the local seafood industry, this popular festival offers fresh, local seafood including little neck clams, raw oysters and clams, single fried oysters, fried fish, steamed shrimp, crab cheddar jalapeno poppers, clam chowder, grilled chicken, boardwalk fries, hushpuppies and more! Front Page News will provide live entertainment beginning at 12:00 PM Arts and Crafts will be available for sale throughout the day featuring homemade creations from local artist, and festival souvenirs will be available for purchase. Tickets for the 2025 Seafood Festival are $65 per person. Children under 5 are FREE! Be sure to stop by the Seaside Vacations Tent to say hello! We'll be right beside the band! :)...

100th Annual Pony Swim


The BIG event! On Wednesday, July 30th, Chincoteague will host the 100th annual Pony Swim, and we'd love to invite you to experience this once in a lifetime celebration! For a century, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has rounded up the wild ponies of Assateague, leading them on a breathtaking swim across the channel to Chincoteague. This 2025 swim will be much more than a swim, however. The 100th Pony Swim week promises to be a celebration of Chincoteague's culture, heritage, and legacy. The week will be packed with family friendly events around town including a Pony Drill team performance, the Pony Auction, the Fireman's Carnival, and much more!...