The boat or kayak tour makes the most sense if you want to see the pony swim. Email now for reservations. Reserve your seats on the boat or kayak tour now. Captain Marks Nature Photography. There will be a special needs bus to transport to Veterans Memorial Park. Reserve now and you will be notified of the time via email or phone. Prom time:Chincoteague High School celebrates Prom 2022. Bring plenty to drink. As thousands of people gather to watch the event, these wild ponies from Assateague Islandoff of Virginias coastswim about 200 yards to neighboring After two years of pandemic-enforced hiatus, Chincoteague's signature summer events will be back this year. Chincoteague Ponies graze and laze around the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Chincoteague, Virginia. 3. PETA calls for end to annual wild pony swim and auction at Chincoteague. However - that doesn't mean your dad can't enjoy the swim! The pony auction is held at the Chincoteague Firemans Carnival following the day of the swim. In 2018, the average winning bid increased by 24 percent from the previous year. The boat or kayak tour makes the most sense if you want to see the pony swim. Charter boats and kayaks filled with onlookers line the Assateague Channel creating a pathway for the ponies as they make their yearly swim from shore to shore. Employment, Where to Stay Every year on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, tens of thousands of spectators watch as ponies swim across a channel from Assateague Island to The The special Pony Swim boat excursion is a once-a-year opportunity for you to see the Chincoteague [16], The Volunteer Fireman's Carnival begins prior to the pony swim and continues after the swim into early August. Bowden said organizers decided in March to make the decision well in advance of the summertime event because they were concerned about making plans and later having to cancel. Eat Local Fare. [15] Typically, the proceeds from one designated foal are donated to a local charity. The South Corral is accessible to the public. Planning the perfect getaway in Chincoteague just got easier! Copyright 2023 Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. Office location: 4103 Main St. Chincoteague Island, VA 23336, Click here to Our Cruises are the most affordable tour option on the Island. Whether this will be your first time or a return visit, this years swim will be one to remember! [1] Once on Chincoteague Island, the Saltwater Cowboys herd the ponies to pens on the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds where some of the foals are auctioned off on Thursday. [16] Anyone who attends in the auction can participate and registration is not required. DECISION!! [5], In 1922, a causeway was completed that connected the Chincoteague Island to the Virginia mainland. We've only seen the pony swim twice and it was from kayaks. The cowboys, most of whom are members of the volunteer fire department that organizes the event, rode horses on the edges of the channels deep water to keep the ponies under control. Click button for mobile app download QR Code. After the swim, about 65 foals will be auctioned. The last night of the carnival will be celebrated with a huge Fireworks display on July 30. In its 97th year, the Chincoteague Pony Swim is an annual tradition celebrating the Chincoteague Ponies as they are brought over from Assateague Island and swim the Assateague Channel. Fish and Wildlife Service which allows the fire department to let the horses graze on the Virginia side of Assateague Island. 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. [9] The event was cancelled during 1942 and 1943 due to World War II, and in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will not make your email address available to third parties. Annual Pony Swim WebGet your best seats. The winner of a Buy Back Pony will get to name the Pony before it is returned to Assateague. Open 7 days a week 7:00am to 11:00pm Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island across the Assateague Channel on July 27, 2022. The public may view the ponies in the Southern Corral during the veterinary checks. Carnival - Opening Ceremony on June 30 at 6:30pm7pm - 11pm. The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce is excited to unveil the Chincoteague 'Plan Your Visit' Widget, which resides here on our website, and the 'Chincoteague' mobile apps for Android and Apple. Whether you are planning a visit or already here, these interactive applications allow you to explore hotels, restaurants, activities, shopping, audio tours, and more while building an itinerary to ensure your visit to the Beautiful Land Across the Water is most memorable. Great white sharks along Cape Cod take center stage in Nat Geos Sharkfest: Really rare footage pretty riveting, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. This boat is like getting a ticket to the Super Bowl on the players bench at the 50 yard line. Day visitors should use Chincoteague Municipal Center. Seats on the boat are limited for the special Pony Swim event. Below is a condensed version! 1. The carnival will open July 1 for the Fourth of July weekend and then resume for the extended Pony Penning week July 22-30. Wander The Trails. People began arriving at 4 a.m. to claim their spot at the swim. 97-Year Tradition of Chincoteague Pony Swim Returns. Wednesday, July 27: The ponies will swim across the Assateague Channel and come ashore on the east side of Chincoteague Island. held in July. This historic event started back in 1925 as a fundraiser for the volunteer fire department. Other Pony Shuttle volunteers will be available at various locations to answer questions. The distance is approximately 1/2 mile. About 45 minutes later the Saltwater Cowboys will parade the ponies down Main Street to the Carnival Grounds. You can view the arrival of the ponies at the corral! The town provides a free Pony Swim Shuttleservice, beginning at 5 a.m. People return from previous attempts at trying it on land and say thats why this year they are going on the boat or kayak tour. The northern end of Assateague Island VA is home to the largest population of ponies and their foals, about 100 to 150 total. Ethan Haga of Raleigh, North Carolina, was one of the younger Misty fans who arrived hours early. See shuttle bus map for parade route. All visitors riding the Pony Shuttle will be taken to Veterans Memorial Park. [12][24] Usually, a television screen is located at Veterans Memorial Park so that those in the back of the crowd can still see the swim. Park in the Woodland Trail Parking Lot to access the Southern Corral. Farrell, 55, a bookkeeper from Hamilton, Ontario, grew up with horses. The swim takes place at "slack tide," and the specific time will be announced at the carnival grounds the week of the swim. The Chincoteague Pony Swim is best seen via the Assateague Explorer tour boat. You could try to watch it on land with an estimated 40,000 people, but you might be far away or standing in the marsh with a mass of spectaculars possibly in front of you. Nothing is as big as that event., There are some people who read the book as a kid, and coming to see it is one of those things on their bucket list, she said. Its disappointing not to be able to have it this year, said Joanne Moore, the marketing and event coordinator for the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. This year, its online and live. The fire company has tried to make up for the lost revenue with other events such as pizza nights and oyster and clam fritter sales. [16] The highest ever recorded bid for an individual pony was $28,250 in 2020. The swim takes place Wednesday morning, with slack tide deciding the exact time when the ponies swim the Assateague Channel and come ashore on the east side of Chincoteague Island. The 97-year Chincoteague tradition includes the Pony Swim on Wednesday and the Pony Auction on Thursday, the biggest annual fundraiser for Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company that manages the pony herd on Assateague Island. [1][2] The fire department owns the herd, and holds a grazing permit from the U.S. Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island across the Assateague Channel on July 27, 2022. The distance is approximately 1/2 mile. A beautiful place surrounded by marshes and home to these incredible Chincoteague Ponies, the small town of Chincoteague comes to life every year as many come to see the iconic pony swim for themselves. Each winner of a "buy back" pony gets to name their adopted pony. Sunday, July 24: About 100 adult ponies and their foals on the Assateague Island will be herded into the North Corral beginning at about 7:30 a.m. Special needs parking is available at the Chincoteague Municipal Center ONLY. Shotwell said one version is that they washed ashore from a Spanish shipwreck. Special needs parking is available at the Chincoteague Municipal Center only. He grew up on the island so he knows. Back in the early 1900s Chincoteague was isolated from the mainland with no bridges, the island residents were in need of fire trucks so they decided to swim the ponies over from nearby Assateague and have an auction. Photo: Robbie Caponetto. Its important to reduce the population of the horses because the fire department has an agreement with the U.S. The Chincoteague Pony Swim at the end of July is a unique experience. Carnival- 7pm - 11pm. The Maryland herd is managed by the National Park Service. [16][22] Many observers line the route, helping to keep the ponies on the road. A pencil and paper are always useful. He still has it. [15] Generally, the highest bid is for a buyback pony.[15]. are no restrooms near the swim since it is a tidal marsh. Tuesday, July 26: All ponies will be checked by a vet and can be viewed by the public in the Southern Corral on Assateague. The carnival is happening throughout the week from July 22 July 30. The annual pony swim between the two spots draws upward of 40,000 visitors from the Washington region, Pennsylvania, Delaware and as far as Oregon and Seats on the boat ", "3 girls overcome health, dashed chances to own Chincoteague ponies", "Official 2018 Chincoteague Island Pony Swim Guide", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pony_Penning&oldid=1134158451, Tourist attractions in Accomack County, Virginia, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Annually, on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July, Average cost and high bid matched previous record; new total sales record, New record for average cost and total sales. Photos WebThe swim will be super EARLY this year. Bicyclists and hikers can use Swan Cove Trail to access the beach. To learn more visitwww.featherfund.org. One line is for transportation to the Carnival (where the ponies are going), and one line is for transportation to the Municipal Center, Motels and other locations. Volunteer Guides are available on some buses to assist you. The Pony Shuttle runs between various locations on Chincoteague Island and Veterans Memorial Park. Location Last Night of Carnival Fireworks- 10pmFireworks sponsored by Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, and Town of Chincoteague. You can watch the Pony Swim on Wednesday and or watch the return Pony Swim on Friday as the ponies swim back to Assateague. [13] The oldest Saltwater Cowboy is Jack Brittingham, who was 86 years old in 2019. For one week starting Saturday, July 23, pony fever will rise on Chincoteague as thousands are again expected to make the trek torekindle, reconnect, and recharge with family and friends during the islands annual celebration. Reserve your seats on the boat or kayak tour now. There are several legends about how the ponies came to Assateague. You can see the pony swim good on the boat or kayak tour. You will be able to see the swim on the screen. If you are going to a motel, you will first be transported to the Municipal Center where connections may be made to your lodging. And despite being forced online, pony lovers stepped up big time in 2021, netting $400,000-plus in proceeds. If you walk from Memorial Park to the pony landing site, you must be back to the front of Memorial Park within 30 minutes of the ponies This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 07:53. See approx. 150 Assateague Ponies (including foals) swim across the Assateague channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. Seats on the boat are limited for the special Pony Swim event. This boat is like getting a ticket to the Super Bowl on the players bench at the 50 yard line. This is a once a year event. Click here for more details about 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 bandstand at 7pm. The ponies will be here Saturday through Tuesday for photos and viewing. [15] The records for highest bid and average cost per pony were also broken. Old-Fashioned Fireworks Display- 10pmFireworks sponsored by Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, and Town of Chincoteague, Trolley Service- Last call at 12am behind Carnival Grounds on Willow Street (Ride free courtesy of the Town of Chincoteague), Trolley Service - Last call at 11pm in front of Carnival Grounds ($0.50 per ride). One note that many people forget - if you're not able to see the ponies swim (I'm short too!) You can check that out here: www.chincoteaguechamber.com/pony-penning/. Trip Planning at Your Fingertips. Chincoteague's Official Widget and Mobile App Are Now Live! In 1909, the last Wednesday and Thursday of July were designated as the annual days for pony penning. He grew up on a horse farm and has read the Misty books a few times. A: The Ponies swim across the Assateague Channel, from Assateague Island (where they live all year) to Chincoteague Island. Denise Bowden, a spokeswoman for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company that oversees the fundraiser and helps care for the wild ponies, said with crowd restrictions in place, it was just not conducive for us to have the swim again this year.. How long does the Chincoteague Pony Swim take? Evelyn Shotwell, director of the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, which helps to advertise the swim, said it goes back to 1925 and started with just a handful of people. And though shes seen pictures of the Chincoteague ponies, shes wanted to see the legendary horses in person for more than 20 years. July 23 The Southern Herd is rounded up first and brought to the Southern Corral on Beach Road. You must have a ticket and you must be present to win. [22], During the swim, some lactating mares become affected with hypocalcemia, which is treated by on-site veterinarians. Thursday, July 28: The auction, which starts at 8 a.m., serves two purposes. This is the only way Captain Mark of Assateague Explorer has ever seen it. The "Saltwater Cowboys" herd this group into the Northern Corral. Be sure to email in advance to reserve your seats. The auction of foals takes place on Thursday, July 28, at 8 a.m. at the Carnival Grounds at 3648 Main St. Money raised goes to the fire company. See the Pony Swim. This is on some peoples bucket list. The main public viewing area will be Veterans Memorial Park. The Chincoteague Fire Department conducts the event, which consists of a pony swim on Wednesday and a pony auction on Thursday. Being out on the water offers you the best opportunity and a pleasant experience. Between 2016 and 2017, the average winning bids increased by 30 percent. You must have a ticket and be present at the carnival bandstand at 7pm on Wednesday to win. Famed Chincoteague ponies have died because of swamp cancer outbreak. Brandy Farrell traveled all the way from Canada for the Chincoteague Pony Swim. Organizers of the popular event that began more than 90 years ago said that given the continued presence of the virus and restrictions on the size of gatherings in some jurisdictions, they decided to cancel the July event. This is a once a year event. Where Should I Watch the Pony Swim From? ), a bathroom and a cover for the shade. Be sure everyone in your party is counted for loading. On Friday, the adult ponies will make the return swim to Assateague Island where they will live in the wild for another year. New record for average cost, high bid, and total sales. event a worry free experience. WebWeb how far is the chincoteague pony swim? Get front row seats to a famous attraction on the Eastern Shore. Proceeds from the sale of one foal annually goes to a regional charity. Each year the fire company designates a select few ponies as buy backs. A buy back pony is a foal that is designated by the fire company to return to Assateague Island to live out its life there. [6] In the early years of the swim, there were not enough riders on Chincoteague to help with the swim, so Saltwater Cowboys were recruited from the mainland. Shuttles - Begin at 5am and end one hour after ponies arrive at the Carnival Grounds (free). The Chincoteague Chamber has put together a comprehensive calendar of events that will be taking place during the week of Pony Penning. Call the chamber office at 757-336-6161 for assistance in finding available seats. Ponies are gathered in a corral at the Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen's Carnival grounds in Chincoteague, Virginia on July 27, 2022. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fireman's Carnival will be open July 22-23 and July 25-30 from 7-11 p.m., featuring rides, games, raffles, and Eastern Shore food including oyster and clam fritters. There is no charge by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company or Town of Chincoteague for parking or seeing the ponies swim. Bikers and hikers may access the beach via Swan Cove Trail. Tickets for the Neptune Pony go on sale at the Information Stand! The tour boat is the best way to get a close view of the swim, unless you want to wait with approx. After the swim area is cleared, buses will only be available behind the carnival grounds on Willow Street. July 25 Beach Walk the Saltwater Cowboys walk the Northern Herd down the beach to meet the Southern Herd, July 29 The ponies swim back to Assateague Island, July 30 Final carnival day and fireworks finale. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles. You can view it on Wednesday or Friday. WebI hope you've found the pony swim guide here: http://www.chincoteague.com/pony_swim_guide.html It has information about parking [6][7] It now usually draws from 40,000 to 50,000 spectators.[1][8]. Sometimes while waiting for the ponies to swim you can witness dolphins or bald eagles. Chincoteague ponies: Online auction sees 400-plus bidders as proceeds reach record high, Rare 13th Amendment copy that ended slavery finds home at Va. The Feather Fund is a charity that was created to honor the memory of Carollynn Suplee, a woman who came to Chincoteague annually to help children buy ponies at the auction until she passed away from cancer in 2003. [17] In the winter of 2018, the Saltwater Cowboys had to euthanize seven ponies suffering from "swamp cancer," a fungal infection. The swim is a part of Pony Penning week, which also includes a carnival and a pony auction. See approx. This service is free. The ponies swim over from Assateague on Wednesday, then after the auction they swim back on Friday. 40,000 visitors for long hours along the shoreline in the sun, at an area much further To be able to see the swim, you would need to be in place in the marsh well in advance - people are there sometimes for hours. You can view it on Wednesday or Friday. after they arrive on shore, they will rest for about an hour before they parade down Beebe Road to Main Street and up to the Carnival Grounds. During the pandemic, the auction of the foals was held online. The Virginia herd is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our website, to show you personalized content and targeted ads, to analyze our website traffic, and to understand where our visitors are coming from. Festivities begin with the South Herd roundup on Saturday, July 23, at 8 a.m.