Beach Guide

Chincoteague Events

This week on the beach

Pick a Day

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.

5:38 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.

Big Days

annual
Jul

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.

Jul

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.

Oct

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

Every week is the beach’s recurring lineup. Times shift and seasons end, so check the venue before you go. Sun-timed events track each day’s real sunset and the countdown runs on the live local clock.

At Chincoteague, the sun sets at 7:08 PM today — about 12h 22m of daylight. Sunrise was 6:46 AM. Live water temperature, surf height, UV index, wind and tide for Chincoteague update at the top of the conditions page.