* Pony Penning Week Activities – Chincoteague

ChincoteagueIsland Celebrates 99-Year Tradition 

ChincoteagueVolunteer Fire Company Host Pony Roundup, Swim and Auction

ChincoteagueIsland, VA — Pony Penning is a magical time of year onChincoteague Island, Virginia. Some call it Christmas in July! It’s atime of homecoming, a time to reconnect with old friends and a timeto make new friends. It is a time to experience the place whererenowned children’s author Marguerite Henry wrote the award-winningMisty of Chincoteague in 1946 about a Chincoteague Pony andtwo children who loved her. It is a time to celebrate a 99 yeartradition whose roots are as deep as the marsh mud. Whether you havelived on Chincoteague your entire life or only for a short season,the last week of July is a pilgrimage home during this exciting weekof pony fever. Visitors from around the world experience an eventlike none other.

Thousandsline the shores of Veterans Memorial Park and Pony Swim Lane to watchthe world-famous Chincoteague Ponies make their annual swim fromAssateague Island, VA to Chincoteague Island. Charter boats andkayaks filled with eager onlookers line the Assateague Channelcreating a pathway for the ponies as they make their yearly swim fromshore to shore.   

•    Saturday, July 20th – Festivities begin with the South Herd roundup         

•    Sunday, July 21st – The North Herd roundup . The North Herd of wild Chincoteague Ponies will join the South Herd to await the “big day” in the traditional Beach Walk.         

•    Monday, July 22 – The joined herds will make the traditional Beach Walk on Assateague Island.         

•    Tuesday, July 23 – Vet checks will be given.         

•    Wednesday, July 24th – The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has announced that the pony swim will be between Noon-1 p.m.         

•    Thursday,  July 25^th – The auction of foals takes place at 8 a.m. at the Carnival Grounds    located at 3648 Main Street. Online bidding will also be available and can be accessed from the Chamber website on Auction Day.         

•    Friday, July 26^th – is the return swim of the South Herd adult ponies to Assateague Island (time to be determined after the swim on Wednesday).        

TheTown of Chincoteague will provide enhanced viewing of the event on alarge Jumbotron located at Veterans Memorial Park and provide freeshuttle bus serviceto the event beginning at 7 a.m. on July 24th. The PonyExpress Trolleywill operate extended hours on July 24-26 to assist in transportingeveryone to all the activities.Visit www.chincoteaguechamber.com/pony-penning andthe chamber’s Facebookpagefor any updates, shuttlemap,and information including where to park if you are a day visitor,helpful hints and full schedule of events. 

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