James River Boat Parade 2015

The James River Parade of Lights will begin in the Upper James River at the Rockett's Landing and end at Henricus Park. The event will take place on December 12, 2015 beginning at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m.

Chesapeake Virginia Fly Fishing Workshop

Fly Fishing Workshop at Northwest River Park
Date:     December 5, 2015
Time:     10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location:     Northwest River Park
1733 Indian Creek Road
Chesapeake, VA

Anglers can attend a free fly fishing free workshop at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake Virginia. No experience is necessary and no is gear required.

The workshop will cover the basics of fly fishing equipment including rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and accessories. Club members will guide anglers through tying their first fly, offer instruction, and assist with hands-on practice casting. Anglers that wish to fish afterwards should bring their fishing license with trout stamp to the park.

The fly fishing free workshop is sponsored by: Bill Wills SE Virginia Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

RSVP at 757-421-7151

For more information, contact Northwest River Park, 757-421-7151

source: City of Chesapeake

Lynnhaven River NOW Seafood Festival 2015

Lynnhaven River NOW Fall Fest Seafood Festival
November 7, 2015
Lynnhaven Shellfish Company & Back Deck
3323 Shore Drive
Virginia Beach, VA

The 2015 Lynnhaven River NOW Seafood Festival will feature food and drinks in a beautiful location on the Lynnhaven River.

Tickets are $40 and available at Bubba's, Lynnhaven Shellfish and the Back Deck. 
3323 Shore Drive or call 757-481-7512.

Fall Fest benefits Lynnhaven River NOW.

Hurricane Joaquin

On September 30th, Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The declaration empowers public safety officials to respond to weather-related events in communities across Virginia.

The Executive Order, which operates retroactively to Tuesday, September 29th, allows Virginia state and local emergency responders to begin to prepare for the effects of the 8-10” of rain forecast across the Commonwealth Thursday and Friday, as well as the potential that Hurricane Joaquin will impact Virginia.

For more information, visit:

http://governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/newsarticle?articleId=12931.

Things To Do in Virginia - October 2015

October is one of the best times to enjoy festivals, shows, and other activities in Virginia. The following list includes events that are scheduled for October 2015.

Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife

The 42nd Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife will be held on Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4, 2015 each day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Newport News Park in Newport News, Virginia.

The 2015 Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife will feature over 200 exhibitors showcasing traditional crafts, heritage trade demonstrations, entertainment, children’s activities, and food. The Fall Festival of Folklife attracts 70,000 visitors each year to Newport News Virginia.

Harvest Faire at Endview Plantation

Harvest Faire, the Peninsula’s Renaissance Festival will be held October 9 -11, 2015. The event includes demonstrations of period life, combat, and horsemanship as well as music, dance, merchants, and games.

Hours are Friday 5pm - 9 pm, Saturday 9am - 9pm, and Sunday 9am - 3pm. For more information visit www.harvestfaire.org.


Suffolk Peanut Fest

The 38th anniversary Suffolk Peanut Fest will be held October 8-11, 2015.  This family-friendly event honors the city’s agriculture heritage and devotion to peanuts. The Suffolk Peanut Fest has been featured in numerous magazines, including Southern Living, The Southern Farmers Almanac, Best Festivals - Mid Atlantic, Sauveurs, and Virginia Business.

Suffolk Peanut Fest includes concerts, amusement rides, contests and competitions, demolition derby, truck and tractor pull, motorcycle rally, fireworks, and more.

For more information, visit: http://www.suffolkpeanutfest.com/


Friday Night Frights

Hermitage Outdoor Film Series gets a terrifying new twist in October with the airing of five popular horror flicks. This year's lineup includes: A Nightmare on Elm Street (Oct. 16), Night of the Living Dead (Oct. 23), Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (Oct. 29), and two PG film nights: Frankeenweenie (Oct. 9) and The Goonies (Oct. 30).

Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. each evening and the film will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free for members, $7 for non-members, and includes entrance to the museum's fall exhibit and a raffle ticket for a prize drawing from 96x.
Location:
Hermitage Museum & Gardens
7637 North Shore Rd,
Norfolk, VA 23505


Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Fee Free Weekend

Entrance to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is free on October 10-11, 2015 in celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge includes more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest.


Visual Arts Week in Norfolk (October 10-18, 2015)

The 2nd annual Visual Arts Week in Norfolk will be held October 10-18, 2015. Visual Arts Week begins with the Chesapeake Bay Art Association’s 53nd Annual Ocean View Art Show, October 10 and 11. This popular show is open 10am-5pm both days at Ocean View Beach Park, overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

The Norfolk Arts District along Granby Street will host the NEON Festival, a celebration of energy, art and light October 15, 5-10pm and October 16, 3-10pm. Long time cultural institutions like the Chrysler Museum of Art and Harrison Opera House anchor the District while new art venues like Glass Wheel Studio and Work|Release provide artists a place to make, create and show.

Local and national artists, performers and musicians will showcase their talents at pop-up venues, the Plot and at various anchors of the NEON District. On display will be tiny art, large gateway murals, and neon light throughout the festival.

Many events are free and open to the public, including CRAFTED: Indie Arts and Craft Market at O’Connor Brewing Co. (October 10), the Colonial Place & Riverview annual Front Porch Art Walk (October 12). The public can also take a public art walking tour. Participants will meet at MetalMatisse at MacArthur Square and take a tour of Public Art in Downtown, Norfolk. (October 14 at 6pm).

Exhibitions will be held at the Offsite Gallery, Transit Gallery, Neil Britton Gallery, OKAY Spark Gallery, Kellam Galleries, Corner Gallery, Paul Street Gallery, Art Works Gallery and Frame Shop, Granby Street Gallery, James Wise Gallery, Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Gallery, and other locations.

Visual Arts Week concludes with the 2015 Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival, October 17, 10am-5pm, and October 18, 12pm-5pm. More than 25,000 people come to see and buy fine art and enjoy live entertainment and kids’ activities throughout the festival.


Town Point Virginia Wine Festival

The 28th Annual Town Point Virginia Wine Festival will be held October 17 & 18, 2015, from 11am - 6pm at Town Point Park on Norfolk's Downtown Waterfront.

Town Point Virginia Wine Festival will feature a wide selection of Virginia wines, live musical performances, gourmet foods, and specialty wares.

Newport News Oyster Roast

The Newport News Oyster Roast will be held at the City Center on October 23, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.  The event will feature music by Ammons’ All Stars and The Tiki Bar Band, local seafood, a variety of beverages, games, give-a-ways, and free children’s activities.

FilFest 2015

FilFest, a two-day celebration of Filipino arts and culture, will be held at Virginia Beach Town Center on Friday, Oct. 23, from 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 24, from noon to 10 p.m.

This family-friendly event will feature traditional cuisine, cultural performances, dance and music with guest appearances by comedian Rex Navarrete; singer and actress Stephanie Reese; singer, songwriter and actor Martin Nievera, and retired NBA player Raymond Townsend.

For additional information, visit Beachstreet USA​.

Attucks Jazz Series: Katie Thiroux

Jazz Bassist Katie Thiroux will perform on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, Virginia.

For more information, visit:

http://vafest.org/2015/2015-performances/attucks-jazz-series?camefrom=EMCL_725185_30893679.



NOTE:

Readers are encouraged to check back periodically as new events will be added to this post when available.
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2015 Neptune’s Art and Craft Show - Virginia Beach

Due to severe weather for the weekend, Neptune Festival planners had to cancel or relocate several events.

Neptune’s Art and Craft Show is moving to the Virginia Beach Convention Center (1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451).

Over 240 artists from around the country are expected to participate. The show will be free and open to the public.

King Neptune XVII and the royal court will be at the Art and Craft Show on Saturday, September 26 at 11 am.

Neptune’s Art and Craft Show hours will be Friday 12 pm – 7 pm, Saturday 10am – 7 pm, Sunday, 10 am – 6pm.

For additional information call the Festival Office at 757-498-0215 or visit www.facebook.com/NeptuneFestival.

Eastern Shore Birding Festival 2015

Eastern Shore Birding Festival
October 8 - October 11, 2015
Cape Charles, VA

Held on the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula near Cape Charles, Virginia, the Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival celebrates the peak of fall bird migration in a pristine coastal environment.

The region is surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, which creates a natural “funnel” effect for migrating hawks, warblers and other songbirds in the Fall.

The festival includes lectures, field trips (by land and boat), kayaking tours, an oyster roast, photography contest, and other activities.

In addition to birding, visitors can explore historic Cape Charles and other seaside villages.

For more information, visit www.esbirdingfestival.com.

Mount Trashmore Park Community Yard Sale

Mount Trashmore Park Community Yard Sale
Saturday, September 19
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mount Trashmore Park
310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach

A community yard sale will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Mount Trashmore Park in Virginia Beach. The Mount Trashmore Park community yard sale will include free admission and parking, used furniture, clothing, tools, and more from more than 75 sellers all in one spot.

source: City of Virginia Beach

2015 Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Beach Cleanup

The public is invited to join refuge staff and volunteers on Saturday, September 26th, 2015 for the Annual Beach Cleanup at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

The beach cleanup will be held along the beach on the Virginia end of Assateague Island.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center. Attendees should bring water for this event.

This year, September 26 is also National Public Lands Day, so entrance to the refuge is free.

For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague/.

Virginia Blue Wave Beaches

Again this year, two local beaches were included in the Clean Beaches Coalition list of clean beaches. Sandbridge Beach in Virginia Beach and Tom's Cove Beach, at Assateague Island National Seashore made the list.

The Clean Beaches Coalition annual list of Blue Wave beaches recognizes clean, healthy and environmentally well managed beaches.

Things To Do in Virginia - September 2015

This list includes festivals, concerts, and other things to do in Virginia during September 2015:

2015 Lynchburg Art Festival
Saturday, September 12, 2015 (10:00 AM-4:00 PM)
E.C. Glass High School Grounds
2111 Memorial Avenue
Lynchburg, VA

The 43rd Annual Lynchburg Art Festival includes original artwork on display and for sale by 150 local and regional artists.  The festival is held on the grounds of E. C. Glass High School.

2015 Virginia Wine Festival
Great Meadow Event Park
5089 Old Tavern Road
The Plains, VA 20198
Saturday, September 12, 2015 (11:00 AM-6:00 PM)
Sunday, September 13, 2015 (11:00 AM-5:00 PM)

The Virginia Wine Festival is the oldest wine festival on the East Coast. Each year, the festival features 50 of VA's best wineries, craft exhibitors, seminars, and incredible music. For more information, visit  www.virginiawinefest.com.

Taste of Suffolk
Saturday, September 12, 2015 (11:00 AM-5:00 PM)
Downtown Suffolk
North Main Street from Finney Avenue to Washington Street
Suffolk, VA

For 2015 the Taste of Suffolk street festival will span Main Street from Finney Avenue to Washington Street. Enjoy specialty food items from local restaurants all over Suffolk and see all the goods and services the crafters, vendors and merchants have to offer. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.suffolk-fun.com.

2015 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Saturday, Sep 12, 2015 Noon-4:00pm
TowneBank Fountain Park
Norfolk VA

The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is based upon an Asian holiday that marks the end of the summer harvest. This festival incorporates a wide range of entertainment and cultural programs that include storytelling, authentic Asian Ceremonial fashion shows, ribbon an dragon dancing, martial arts demonstrations, children’s activities, musical and dance performances, children’s lantern parade, and special appearances by the Moon Goddess.

Virginia Craft Beer and Wine Festival
Saturday, September 12, 2015; 12:00pm
nTelos Wireless Pavilion
Portsmouth, VA

Opera in the Park
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Town Point Park
Norfolk, VA

The 2015 Opera in the Park will include music from some of the most popular operas, such as Don Giovanni and The Tales of Hoffman, as well as highlights from all four of this season’s Virginia Opera productions, Orpheus in the Underworld, La Bohème, Romeo and Juliet and The Flying Dutchman.

This year's Opera in the Park features accompaniment by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Virginia Opera Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Adam Turner.


2015 Artisans in the Park
Saturday, Sept. 12; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Great Neck Park
Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation's 40th Annual Artisans in the Park will be held in Great Neck Park on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13.

Artisans in the Park features local and regional artists displaying, creating and selling original fine crafts, pottery, metal and glass work, photography, jewelry, drawings, paintings and sculptures. The event also features food, live music, and more.

Norfolk Neighborhood Expo
Saturday, September 19, 2015
10 am - 4 pm
Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
1401 Ballentine Blvd.

The public is invited to the 4th Annual Norfolk Neighborhood Expo on Saturday, September 19, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.




2015 Sandbridge Paddle Fest
Saturday, September 26
Little Island Park
Virginia Beach, VA


Jimmy Greene, Saxophone
Saturday, September 26 (8 P.M.)
Attucks Theatre
1010 Church Street
Norfolk, VA


2015 Neptune Festival
September 25, 26, 27

The Virginia Beach Neptune Festival includes a surfing competition, wine festival, concerts, art and craft show, parade, volleyball tournament, 8K and 5K runs, sailboat regatta, fireworks, and sand sculpture competition.

For more information, visit Neptunefestival.com.


Virginia Cooperative Extension Fall Festival

On Saturday, September 26th, Virginia Cooperative Extension will be celebrating 15 years of providing services to the Portsmouth community from their office in Kingman Heights. From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., the public is invited to attend the Fall Festival and Anniversary Celebration at their office
which is located at 105 Utah Avenue.

The Fall Festival will feature a plant sale, yard sale, children’s gardening activities, tool sharpening (for a small fee), beekeeping demonstrations, live chickens, plant doctor information booth, healthy recipes for fall, health and wellness tips, line dancing, Optima Health wellness information, healthy snacks, and more.

For more information, call 393-5197, email cyndiw@vt.edu, or visit http://offices.ext.vt.edu/portsmouth.


More Things To Do

Try fishing with a charter captain, fishing guide, or enjoy a day on a Virginia fishing pier.

Take a day trip to Hampton Roads Virginia.

Visit a national seashore, wildlife refuge, or other wild area on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Take a kayaking trip.

Go birdwatching.

Try your hand at outdoor photography.

Explore local beaches and enjoy swimming, shell collecting, fishing, or other activities.

Visit one of Virginia's national parks or historical sites.

Visit a local museum or art gallery.

Find a new restaurant, diner, or food truck.

Visit a farmers market, winery, or organic farm.

Top Spot Fishing Areas in Virginia

This list includes popular areas in Virginia where anglers fish for spot. Included in this list are fishing piers, jetties, and public beaches.

Hampton Roads

Little Island Park Fishing Pier (Sandbridge)
Rudee Inlet (Virginia Beach)
Lynnhaven Pier (Virginia Beach)
Virginia Beach Pier (Virginia Beach)
Sea Gull Pier (Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel)
First Landing State Park (Virginia Beach)
False Cape State Park (Virginia Beach)
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia Beach)
Ocean View Fishing Pier (Norfolk)
Buckroe Beach Fishing Pier (Hampton)
James River Fishing Pier (Newport News)
Newport News Park (Newport News)
Anderson Park - Monitor Merrimac Overlook Park (Newport News)
Portsmouth City Park (Portsmouth)


Lower Chesapeake Bay - Middle Peninsula to Northern Neck
Gloucester Point Landing Fishing Pier
Glebe Point Fishing Pier

Eastern Shore
Assateague Island National Seashore
Chincoteague Island Fishing Pier
Saxis Fishing Pier
Morley's Wharf Fishing Pier
Kiptopeake Fishing Pier

Hampton Roads Arts and Crafts Shows - Fall 2015

A wide range of arts and crafts shows, festivals, and other events will be held around Hampton Roads during the fall season.

Festivals and Shows:

2015 Chelsea West Fest will be held on October 3, 2015. Chelsea West Fest, hosted and benefiting Hope House Foundation, will be a full-day celebrating what makes this region great: local crafters, talented local musicians, local beers and brews, and the unique eateries just steps away from the festival.

2015 Ocean View Art Show
October 10-11, 2015
100 W. Ocean View Avenue
Norfolk, VA

The 53rd Annual Ocean View Art Show will be held October 10-11, 2015, at 100 W. Ocean View Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia. The show features painters, sculptors, jewelers, potters, and other artists displaying their art work in the Ocean View Beach Park. The event is free and open to the public.
2015 Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival
Saturday, October 17, 2015, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, October 18, 2015, noon to 5 pm
Stockley Gardens Park
Norfolk, VA

The Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival will be held October 17-18, 2015 at Stockley Gardens Park in the Ghent section of Norfolk. The festival will feature approximately 150 artists exhibiting a wide variety of media, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and many others. The event is free and open to the public.

Virginia Living Shorelines Permits

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) has approved a free general permit for construction of living shoreline in order to protect waterfront properties.

The expedited permit option is now available to commercial and residential waterfront property owners.

source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Fort Monroe Tide Gauge

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Fort Monroe Authority, has installed a new tide gauge station at Fort Monroe to help emergency planners protect the shorelines in the Hampton Roads region.

The monitoring station, to be located at the former Navy Pier at Fort Monroe, will provide decision makers long-term water level data and real-time warnings of storm surge. The system was funded entirely by federal dollars under the Hurricane Sandy response, which was the main catalyst for making this effort possible.

USGS tide gauges deliver up-to-the-minute data that are critical to the National Weather Service and other partners, like the Navy and Coast Guard, who conduct operations at sea, issue flood warnings, and initiate evacuation orders for communities.

Information on all the tide gauges located throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, including the Hampton area, can be accessed through the USGS National Water Information System webpage.

source: U.S. Geological Survey

2015 Lynnhaven River Osprey Survey

The Virginia Aquarium and the Center for Conservation Biology at The College of William and Mary have conducted a two month-long Osprey survey of the Lynnhaven River identifying 98 nests.

To learn more about Lynnhaven River osprey, visit:

http://lynnhavenrivernow.blogspot.com/2015/08/ospreys-keep-their-iconic-place-in.html

Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA)

The Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA) is a narrow strip of land that is isolated by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Chesapeake Bay to the west.

Part of the Delmarva Peninsula, the Eastern Shore of Virginia is home to a mix of agriculture, aquaculture, commercial fishing, and retirement living.

Among the jewels of Virginia's eastern shore are its wildlife refuges, state parks and towns such as Chincoteague, Onancock, Accomac, Nassawadox, Exmore and Cape Charles.

During his 1608 voyage to explore the Eastern Shore, Captain John Smith said that "... Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation."

The Eastern Shore of Virginia is also known as ESVA or Delmarva.

Eastern Shore of Virginia Towns

Chincoteague Island is a family-oriented vacation resort along the coast. Recreation on the island includes swimming, sunbathing, fishing, clamming, bird watching, nature cruises, eco tours, biking, hiking, boating, kayaking, miniature golf, Chincoteague ponies, the pony swim, fireman's carnival, Chincoteague decoy and art show, arts and crafts shows, the oyster festival and more.

Wachapreague is a small town on the eastern shore of Virginia. The town lies on a winding creek that leads to a series of small bays, tidal flats and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean. Wachapreague is well known for its flounder fishing and deep sea fishing for tuna, marlin and other pelagic species.

Onancock is one of the most beautiful and oldest towns on the lower eastern shore. The town has restaraunts, shops, the harbor and other services within all within walking distance. Onancock is a popular overnight port for sailboaters. The creek into town offers quite dockage and is a nice location to stop off during Chesapeake Bay tours.

Onancock Creek extends roughly 10 miles and merges in the Chesapeake Bay. Along the creek are sandy beaches, ideal for sunbathing and family outings. Further along the estuary are marshy stretches with grass beds, points and other scenic views. Anglers find a wide range of fishing spots within a short distance of Onancock.

Tangier Island is a small but beautiful island in the Chesapeake bay. Shallow water and marshy areas surround the island. The grass beds are home to countless young blue crabs which come to grow and shed. This fishery for shedder crabs, known as "peeler crabs" are a main source of income for watermen.

The commercial crabbers of Tangier Island catch crabs by traps, nets or scrapes and then hold them in tanks until they molt. The resulting soft shelled crab is a valuable seafood delicacy.

Cape Charles Virginia is a historic town near the tip of the Delmarva peninsula. The town was a bustling center of business in the 1800's and first half of the 20th century, with most of its business related to the railroad which terminated in the harbor where rail cars were transferred to barges for transport across the Chesapeake Bay. The rail hub still exists and remains in use.

Eastern Shore of Virginia Wine, Wineries, Viticultural Area

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Wine Trail hosts three wineries along the Land Between Two Waters. The Eastern Shore's three wineries produce a good selection of varietals, including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.

Virginia's Eastern Shore American Viticultural Area (AVA) is located on the southern end of the Delmarva Peninsula, an area that is characterized by sandy soils and weather that is influenced by the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters.

Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing

Saltwater fishing is extremely popular with something for nearly everyone. Anglers fishing in the Chesapeake Bay or along the Atlantic Coast fish from the surf, jetties, piers, inlets, bridges or by boat. The many variations of saltwater fishing allow anglers of any age, skill level or physical condition a chance to enjoy the sport.

Chesapeake Bay fishing varies widely with anglers choosing to fish with bait, artificial lures, fly fishing gear or other techniques. Along the coast is surf fishing, jetty fishing and inshore fishing. Atlantic Ocean fishing offers anglers a chance to try wreck fishing, offshore fishing and other activities.

The Eastern Shore offers ponds, rivers and creeks where freshwater species of fish thrive. The waterways are known for excellent freshwater fishing, especially for largemouth bass, pickerel and other cover-seeking species.

Eastern Shore of Virginia Seafood

The Eastern Shore is famous for its seafood, especially oysters, clams, blue crabs and saltwater fish. Wild blue crabs are harvested by watermen from the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters. Blue crabs are served steamed, as soft crabs, or in dishes such as crab cakes.

The region is also known for shellfish. The seaside areas of Virginia produce some of the highest quality oysters on the USA east coast. Clams are also important to the seafood industry of the Eastern Shore. Local clam aquaculture operations produce clams which are prized for steaming or eaten raw.

Chincoteague Island Fireman's Pony Swim, Penning, Auction, and Carnival

The Chincoteague Island Fireman's carnival, pony swim, penning, and auction are held annually on Chincoteague Island Virginia.  The carnival runs on weekends during July, and nightly during pony swim week.

The pony swim, penning, and auction is held on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. The herd of ponies are rounded up by "saltwater cowboys" and swim the channel between Assateague and Chincoteague Islands.

The animals are penned, inspected, fed and most of the foals auctioned off to qualified buyers. The event provides a humane opportunity to provide medical attention, grooming and population control.

Where to See Chincoteague Ponies

The world famous Chincoteague Island can be viewed several times throughout the season.

They may appear at any time on Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge.

They can be seen in the days leading up to the penning during the walk down the beach.

Although crowded, many visitors choose to view the annual pony swim.

They can be viewed at the carnival grounds before and during the auction.

They can be viewed on the swim back to Assateague Island.