7 AM
Toms Cove Shelling
Toms Cove Hook · Family
Walk the quiet south hook at low tide for whelks, scallops and shorebirds, best in the early morning.
8 AM
Wildlife Loop Drive
Chincoteague NWR · Family
The 3.2-mile refuge loop road for wild ponies, egrets and the Assateague Lighthouse, open to cars after 3 PM and to bikes and walkers all day.
10 AM
Wild Pony Wildlife Cruise
Curtis Merritt Harbor · Family
Assateague Explorer runs naturalist boat tours into the channel for the wild ponies, eagles, dolphins and the lighthouse.
6:40 PM
sun-timed
Chincoteague Channel Sunset
Chincoteague Channel · Sunset
The fishing fleet comes in and the waterfront decks glow as the sun sets over the channel and the causeway.
Pony Swim & Pony Penning
The island's signature event on the last Wednesday of July: Saltwater Cowboys swim the wild ponies across the Assateague Channel, with a foal auction the next day. Run by the fire company since 1925.
Firemen's Carnival
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company carnival, a July tradition since 1924, with rides, games and clam and oyster fritters, pony fries and funnel cakes.
Chincoteague Oyster Festival
A Columbus Day weekend celebration of the island's famous salt oysters, served raw, fried, steamed and roasted.
see you out there
Real recurring local happenings — schedules can change, so check the venue. Sun-timed events track each day’s real sunset and the countdown runs on the live local clock.
At Chincoteague, the sun sets at 8:10 PM today — about 14h 3m of daylight. Sunrise was 6:07 AM. Live water temperature, surf height, UV index, wind and tide for Chincoteague update at the top of the conditions page.