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Events for Saturday, September 26, 2026

Fall Roundup of Ponies

  • Location: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, 8231 Beach Road, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336
  • Starts: 7:00 AM
  • Ends: 12:00 PM
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company holds two other round ups during the year besides the July Pony Penning Round Up; one in the spring and one in the fall. The purpose of these two extra round ups is to perform an overall health check on the ponies and to identify any new foals that have been born since Pony Penning. The round ups usually take place in April and October on a Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. The April round-up is when the buybacks from the previous auction will be removed from the Carnival grounds and released back onto Assateague Island to live out their lives with the remainder of the herd.

Friday afternoon (TBD but usually around 4:30pm) the Saltwater Cowboys will round up the southern herd of ponies and corral them into the south pen located in front of the Woodland Trail parking lot, on road going out to the beach on Assateague. This round up usually takes approx. one-two hours and there is plenty of parking access for spectators on Beach Road to view the round up across the marsh or at the corral. If you park in the Woodland Trail parking lot, please know that once the gates are open for the ponies to enter the corral, your vehicle will not be able to leave the parking lot until all the ponies and Saltwater Cowboys are in the corral and the gates are closed. The ponies will remain in the corral overnight, so there are plenty of photo opportunities. 

Saturday morning (TBD but usually around 7:00am) the Saltwater Cowboys head up the Service Road to round up the northern herd of ponies and corral them in the north pen. This round up takes about 5-6 hours because of the number of ponies in the northern herd and the amount of land that has to be covered to round them up. Parking is available at the Wildlife Loop parking lot. The public is allowed to walk up the Service Road to the cattle grate at any time of the day. Please be aware that this requires a three-mile walk one way (6 miles round trip) on a gravel road. Access farther north will be permitted after round up activities are completed.

The veterinary team performs a basic overall health check of each pony and administers inoculations against West Nile and Equine Encephalitis, as well as deworming and hoof and teeth checks. After vet checks are completed the herds are released back into the wild to roam and await the next round up. 

Late Born Foal Sale - Contact Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.

Learn more at www.chincoteaguechamber.com/spring-fall-round-info

Chincoteague Island Farmers and Artisans Market

  • Location: Chincoteague Cultural Alliance, 6309 Church Street, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336
  • Starts: 9:00 AM
  • Ends: 1:00 PM

The Chincoteague Island Farmers and Artisans Market & Kitchen Art Gallery at the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance, 6309 Church Street, will kick off the 2026 season on May 9th from 9am - 1pm with 45+ vendors offering fresh local seafood, produce, other good things to eat and a wide array of arts & crafts.

Follow the Chincoteague Island Farmers and Artisans Market Facebook page for more information!


Chincoteague Island Farmers & Artisans Market & Kitchen Art Gallery Schedule:

Saturdays from May 19 to October 31

Wednesdays from June 17 to September 30 (except Tuesday July 28 during Pony Week)

Holiday Market Nov 28 – Saturday of Thanksgiving Day Weekend

Free parking, free admission

MARKET - Featuring local seafood, produce & other locally made foods, a wide array of arts & crafts, plus live music.

ART GALLERY - Diverse works by many talented local artists

LIVE MUSIC at the MARKET

Kid Art on the Porch

  • Location: Chincoteague Cultural Alliance, 6309 Church Street, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336
  • Starts: 9:00 AM
  • Ends: 1:00 PM

Attention Kids & Parents:

Join the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance on the porch each week during the Island Farmers and Artisans market for a FREE kids craft!

Kids must be accompanied by an adult.