June 15, 2022
Did you know that the Chincoteague Island and Bay area is home to some really special events every year? We wanted to highlight the top 2022 Chincoteague Island summer events. So come on this journey with us! If you are not familiar with Chincoteague it is the connecting point to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. This is located on Assateague Island. While it’s home to some beautiful beaches…it’s also home to the famous Chincoteague wild ponies! Located in Accomack County, Virginia and spans just over 9 miles of land and 28 miles of water. Lastly, it is steeped in rich history of oyster fishing, wild ponies, blueberries and more! Now that you have a brief history of the region let’s dig into what festivals and events make Chincoteague Island the best place to be!
The Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival
Up first on our list of Top Chincoteague Summer Events we have the Firemen’s Carnival! The Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival is a local tradition dating back 98 years all the way to 1924. The carnival came to pass after a series of horrendous fires plagued the small town. Consequently, the Chincoteague Island residents banded together to form a volunteer fire department. The carnival was their way of raising money for the equipment so they could properly fight the fires. This tradition stuck and has formed into an annual event that takes place every Friday and Saturday of July leading up to the Pony Swim week. And during that week the carnival runs every day!
The dates are as follows: open 7 pm – 11 pm – Friday-Saturday, July 1-2, 2022, Monday, July 4, 2022, Friday-Saturday, July 22-23, 2022, Monday-Saturday, July 25-30, 2022, Fireworks on July 4 & July 30 at 10pm. For more information please go here.
34th Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival | July 21-23
The 34th Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival takes place on July 21-23 at The Chincoteague Center located at 6155 Community Drive on Chincoteague Island. “The largest Fine Arts & Crafts event on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Live entertainment, food, and don’t forget the blueberries!” (Source) This is a family friendly event and it comes at the right price with only $5 admission for adults and $1 per child 12 and under!
The 97th Annual Pony Swim – July 25-30
The biggest event in the Chincoteague area is the annual Pony Swim which is in its 97th year! “During the brief 3 minute pony swim event, the wild horses swim across the Assateague Channel when the tide is ‘slack calm’ so the young ponies, which are born during spring or early summer, are safe from any strong currents. After watching the pony swim, visitors can attend the Chincoteague Carnival. An auction takes place before the ponies swim back to Assateague Island.” (Source) Although the swim itself is brief the week of events and moments to see the horses is well worth the trip! Above all, our favorite part of the week is the beach walk where you can see the wild ponies being herded down the beach by the Saltwater Cowboys. For more info about the 2022 Pony Swim schedule check out this post!
Chincoteague Farmers & Artisans Market
This isn’t your average farmers market…“The Chincoteague Farmers & Artisans Market offers fresh things from the farm, field and bay; plus quality arts, crafts and attic treasures. Shop for seasonal produce, seafood, eggs, plants, handmade jewelry, carvings, art, soaps, and other handmade crafts by local artists. Free parking and live music from 10 am until 12 pm.” (Source) The market is held on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s (except for Pony Penning week it’s on Tuesday). There is a full music schedule that you can find here.
Summer Events
In conclusion there are lots of great family friendly events in the Chincoteague region! Every Friday and Saturday The Island Theatre does movie nights. These range from family movies like “The Incredibles” (PG) to more mature movies like the hit “Chinatown” (R). The local chamber has these listed on the calendar here. Labor Day weekend is host to the annual Chincoteague Decoy Carvers’ & Artists’ Association Show, “featuring 30-40 area decoy carvers and artisans at the Chincoteague Center, 6155 Community Drive.” (Source) The dates and times are as follows: Saturday, September 3, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 4, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Escape to Chincoteague Island for the week and you can explore the bay area, and all it has to offer!
