Chincoteague Events

The Chincoteague Oyster Festival is held to promote the seafood industry and mark the arrival of the oyster season. Come and enjoy oysters—raw, steamed, fritters, and single fried; clam fritters, clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, salad bar, hot dogs, hush puppies, and Boardwalk fries. Beverages are included in the ticket price with beer available for purchase. Island Boy, a festival favorite for over 25 years, will provide live entertainment for everyone’s enjoyment.  An Extravaganza Raffle is held with the winner receiving t-shirts, tickets, lodging, gift certificates for meals, and much more for the following year’s festival.  A favorite at the festival is the “Best Place/Space Award” which is given to the best decorated area.  There will also be a variety of souvenirs available for purchase.  This is an advance ticketed event that is typically sold out before festival day.  

47th Annual Chincoteague Oyster Festival
October 12, 2019
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Tom’s Cove Park
8128 Beebe Road, Chincoteague, VA  23336
Locate the Festival on Google Maps

Visit ChincoteagueOysterFestival.com to Purchase Tickets & Learn More About
Festival Helpful Hints
Directions & Parking
Extravaganza of Prizes Raffle & Best Space Contest
Merchandise
Festival Sponsors

Floats, bands, fire companies from all around the Eastern Shore & a special visit from Santa. 7 pm. Main Street. 

For a complete list of Island events & activities CLICK HERE 

April 10-11, 2020
Friday, April 10th,  Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 11th,  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (People’s Choice voting ends 2pm. Exhibitor awards announced 3pm. Auctions end 4pm.)

Chincoteague Combined School
4586 Main St.
Chincoteague Island, VA  23336

Admission is $4.00/day per person (Children under 12 are free)

Local and national carvers and artists of all kinds exhibit and sell their works.  Awards are given in various categories.  Wooden Easter Eggs decorated by the exhibitors are offered in a silent auction.

The Pre-loved Treasures Silent Auction has been a favorite in recent years. In 2020, the auction will benefit TBD.

2019 Easter Decoy & Art Festival Application

For more information on the exhibitors and award winners, please visit  ChincoteagueDecoyShow.com

DIRECTIONS TO CHINCOTEAGUE COMBINED SCHOOL

The Chincoteague Seafood Festival is held the first Saturday in May to promote the seafood industry on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The festival offers fresh, local seafood and will include exciting offerings and signature dishes from local restaurants as well as old and new Eastern Shore favorites prepared by famous festival cooks, volunteers, and professionals.  Indulge on little neck clams, a long-time festival staple, along with raw oysters and clams, clam fritters and strips, single fried oysters, fried fish, steamed shrimp, clam chowder, salad bar, grilled chicken, sweet potato fries, Boardwalk fries, hushpuppies, and cornbread.  Non-alcoholic beverages are included in the ticket price with beer available for purchase. 

Front Page News will provide live entertainment for everyone’s listening and dancing enjoyment.

Shop to your hearts content in the Arts and Crafts tent featuring handmade creations from area artisans. 

An Extravaganza Raffle is held with the winner receiving t-shirts, tickets, trays, lodging, gift certificates for meals, and much more for the following year’s festival. 

There will also be a variety of souvenirs available for purchase. 

52nd Annual Chincoteague Seafood Festival
An Eastern Shore Tradition Since 1968 

Saturday May 2, 2020
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Tom’s Cove Park
8128 Beebe Road, Chincoteague, VA  23336
Locate the Festival on Google Maps
 

Tickets are $45 per person (Children under 5 are FREE)

Please note ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL!

Event is held rain or shine. Every attempt will be made to have the festival on the date and time advertised, however circumstances beyond the Chamber’s control may require rescheduling or delay. No refunds will be issued in such case.

Tickets are limited, so order early!!! This is a sell out event!

10:00 am – Gates open (NO EARLY ENTRY FOR SETUP) Any items set up prior to 10am on festival day are subject to removal.

11:00 am – Appetizer tents begin serving – Clam Chowder, Salad Bar, Boardwalk Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Hushpuppies, Cornbread, Grilled Chicken

12:00 pm – Seafood tents begins serving – Raw Oysters & Clams, “Little Neck” Steamed Clams, Single Fried Oysters, Fried Fish, Steamed Shrimp, Clam Fritters, Clam Strips
Live music begins

4:00 pm – Festival ends

6:00 pm – Due to insurance liability purposes, all attendees and volunteers must exit the festival grounds

PLEASE NOTE:

All e-tickets must be scanned either by our volunteer scanners at the entrance of Toms Cove Park or at the Will Call tent to acquire festival wristband.

All attendees must have a festival wristband prior to entrance to festival grounds.

Attendees can come and go to the festival grounds from 10am – noon.

No re-entry to festival grounds after noon. Upon leaving festival grounds, wristbands will be cut.

All attendees age 21 and over MUST provide a photo ID at the beer tent in order to purchase beer. No exceptions!

Beer tent and some Arts & Crafts vendors only accept cash, so please come prepared!

Due to the popularity of the seafood we offer, we cannot guarantee that each item will be available up until 4pm.

Eat all you want, but please do not remove food from the festival grounds.

No pets, vehicles, golf carts, one wheels, bicycles or fire pits/rings are permitted inside the festival grounds for safety purposes.

LEARN MORE:

Festival Helpful Hints
Directions & Parking
Extravaganza of Prizes Raffle
Merchandise   2019 FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE HAS ARRIVED!

UPON PURCHASE OF TICKET(S), YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

We thank you for cooperation in making this a wonderful festival! See you on festival day!

Tickets are no longer being sold in outlets. Tickets can be purchased by clicking the ‘BUY NOW’ button, calling 757-336-6161 or stopping by the Chamber office, 6733 Maddox Boulevard, Chincoteague.

Looking for a great way to spotlight your business or organization?
Join us with a Hospitality/Vendor space, in the Arts and Crafts tent,
or as a “Friends of the Festival” sponsor. Click here for the 2019 Seafood Festival Application. 

THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 ‘FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL’ SPONSORS

FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL

Capt. Zack’s Seafood Carryouts
Don’s Seafood Restaurant
Island Creamery
Sysco Eastern Maryland LLC
Watson Gas

CAPTAIN CLAM

Derrickson Construction
Goldsborough’s Marine
LJT & Associates, Inc.
Tyson Foods

PEARLIE OYSTER

Hawbaker’s Welding & Fabrication
Movement Mortgage
Rustic & Rescued Antiques
The Ugly Oyster Company
Virginia Tourism Corporation

SUSIE SHRIMP

A&N Title & Settlement Company LLC
Chesapeake Outdoor LLC
Comfort Suites
Moore’s Portable Solutions

FREDDY FISH

Dockside Properties
Ginsberg, Nottingham & Mapp
McDonald’s – Baxter Enterprises
Mister Whippy
Ray’s Shanty
Taylor Bank
Union Bank & Trust

HOSPITALITY

Bath Fitter
Brackish Life
Chincoteague Island House of Jerky
Chincoteague Island KOA / Maui Jack’s Waterpark
GSB Media
Island Queen Apiary / Mudboy Guitar Works
Lularoe by Cindy Jo

ARTS & CRAFTS UNDER THE BIG TENT

Blue Crab Treasures
Classy Hipsy
Crystal Fairy / Bead-A-Licious
Everything That Glitters
Fahnestock Hairclips
Howl Naturale
Kathy Stuart
Lauri Fisher
Recycled Beauty
Secrets of the Universe
Tom Tobin Photography

Wednesday July 29, 2020

At “slack tide” – Time to be announced at a later date by Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. The Chincoteague Ponies will swim across the Assateague Channel just south of Memorial Park (7427 Memorial Park Dr, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336) on the east side of Chincoteague Island. There is no charge by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company for parking or seeing the ponies swim. The ONLY parking at Memorial Park, however, is designated for tour buses. All those seeking handicap parking and all day-trippers are encouraged to go to Municipal Center (6150 Community Drive, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336) and catch the free shuttle. There will be a handicap accessible bus for your convenience (click here for shuttle information and link to official shuttle map). Those staying on the island may catch a shuttle bus near their lodging.

The first foal to come ashore will be named King or Queen Neptune and will be given away in a raffle drawing at the carnival grounds later in the day (time to be announced). Tickets are sold each night at the carnival and amongst the crowd while waiting for the swim to occur. You must have a ticket and you must be present to win.

After swimming the short distance across the channel, the ponies will rest for approximately 45 minutes to an hour before “parading” to the carnival grounds on Main Street. See shuttle bus map below for parade route.

The carnival will open at 7:00 p.m. with rides, games, and lots of good food.

Note: Pets are not permitted in Memorial Park or the Carnival Grounds.
Coast Guard on Alert for Illegal Charter Boats During Chincoteague Pony Swim
(The Coast Guard is cautioning tourists attending the pony swim to avoid boats that do not have licensed captains, and in some cases have not been inspected by the Coast Guard.)

7:00 p.m. – Carnival attractions.

Click here for detailed Pony Swim shuttle map.