OUT & ABOUT: Your weekly guide to what is happening on and around Chincoteague Island.


Plan Your 2017 Chincoteague Island Getaway with the
Chincoteague Visitor's Guide & Membership Directory

Now available online at chincoteaguechamber.com or request a paper copy here  or  call  757-336-6161 .
38th Annual Easter Decoy & Art Festival
 
April 14 - Noon to 6pm & April 15 9am to 4pm
Chincoteague Combined School     4586 Main Street
$4 admission (under 12 free)

75 vendors featuring award winning decoy carvers, artists & artisans
Wooden Easter Egg Silent Auction
 Pre-Loved Treasures Silent Auction to benefit Chincoteague Pony Drill Team
(Chamber office is now accepting donations)
Food available for purchase provided by Kegotank Elementary School Junior Beta Club
Island Creamery scooping up delicious ice cream
The Salt Marsh Ramblers playing music on April 15 10am - 12pm & 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Easter Bunny visits April 15 at Noon! 

VERY limited vendor space available. 
Visit chincoteaguechamber.com or chincoteaguedecoyshow.com for application and more information.
49th Annual Chincoteague Seafood Festival 
Tickets Are Going Fast!
10am - 4pm  |  Toms Cove Park
         Gates open 10am  |  Appetizers 11am  |  Full menu 12pm
Front Page News playing from Noon - 4pm
Hospitality Spaces  |  Arts and Crafts Vendors

 Be part of the tradition and join us for a day of FOOD, FUN, and GREAT MEMORIES!
Click here for more information. Purchase tickets at chincoteaguechamber.com,
757-336-6161 or Chamber office
Promote Your Business/Organization at 
Chincoteague Seafood Festival
 
"Friends of the Festival" Sponsor, Hospitality Vendor, and Arts & Crafts spaces available.
Click here for application.  Deadline is March 24th.
Business Before Hours at 
The Baxter Insurance Group - Nationwide Insurance
8:30am - 10:00am  |   4153 Main Street, Chincoteague
 
Join us for a light breakfast and refreshments, network with business partners in the community and learn about the services The Baxter Insurance Group offers for
Health, Life, Home, Business and Auto 

RSVP no later than Monday, March 27 to joanne@chincoteaguechamber.com or 757-336-6161
Click here for flyer.
Upcoming Activities

Mar 17 - Steamed Shrimp & Clams Dinner. 5pm - 7pm. Chincoteague American Legion Post. 4023 Main Street. Carry out available after 6:30pm, supplies permitting. Learn more

Mar 18 - In Search of Shamrocks. Join Main Street Merchants for a day full of fun & prizes, searching for shamrocks up and down Main Street Chincoteague. Don't forget to wear your green!  Contact Laurie Walton 484-995-6001. Created & sponsored by Historic Main Street Merchants. Learn more.

Mar 24-26 - Heritage Days: When Assateague Was Home highlighting the Museum of Chincoteague Island's current exhibit which features personal memories, photographs, & artifacts relating to Assateague Village from the 19th and 20th centuries. In partnership Chincoteague Cultural Alliance, Chincoteague Island Arts Organization, Chincoteague Island Library, Chincoteague Natural History Association, Assateague National Seashore, & Virginia Barrier Islands Center. Event details. Press Release.

Mar 24 - Chincoteague Junior Beta Club Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser. Chincoteague Elementary School Cafeteria. 5pm - 7pm. Includes salad, bread & beverage. $7/person. Eat in. Take out. Pre-orders accepted. Silent auction, bake sale, 50/50 and vendors.Benefits Beta Club trip to National Convention in Orlando, FL in June. 

Mar 25 - Pop Up 4-Course Dinner prepared by   Pico Taqueria  to benefit  Manna Cafe CI.  6pm. $50/person. Purchase at  Chincoteague Christ United Methodist Church  on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 2pm. Only 64 tickets available. 

Mar 25 - Designer Handbag Bingo to benefit Chincoteague Combined School PTSA. Doors open 5pm. Bingo 6pm. Over 20 games. Food, drinks & baked goods for sale. $20 advanced tickets. $25 at the door. Purchase tickets at H&H Pharmacy, Xenith Bank, Chincoteague Combined School & Headquarters Salon. 

For a complete list of upcoming events and details visit chincoteaguechamber.com/events
Save The Date

Mar 30 - Business Before Hours. The Baxter Insurance Group - Nationwide Insurance. 4153 Main Street. Light breakfast & refreshments. Network with business partners. Learn about the services offered for Health, Life, Home, Business & Auto. RSVP by Mar 27 to 757-336-6161 or joanne@chincoteaguechamber.com.

Apr 5 - Accomack-Northampton Regional Job Fair. 9am - 1pm. Eastern Shore Community College, Workforce Development Center, Melfa. Co-sponsored by Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Northampton County Chamber of Commerce & Virginia Employment Commission. Exhibitor applications available. Space limited. Advanced reservations required. Contact Sandra Johnson at 757-787-2460 info@esvachamber.org.


Apr 12 - Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce Members Networking Luncheon.  Don's Seafood Restaurant.  Bring your business cards & make valuable connections with other Chamber members to grow your business/organization while enjoying a delicious lunch. Noon - 1pm.  $10/person + tip. Noon - 1pm. Menu: Shrimp & Scallops, Grilled Chicken, Pasta Alfredo & Marinara Sauces, Mixed Vegetables, Garlic Bread,  Salad Bar, and non-alcohoic beverage. RSVP through Constant Contact email sent to chamber members or to  joanne@chincoteaguechamber.com .

April 14-15  - 38th Annual Easter Decoy & Art Festival . Sponsored by Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. Apr 14 - Noon-6pm. Apr 15 - 9am-4pm. Chincoteague Combined School. 4586 Main Street. Silent auctions; one of hand-painted and carved wooden Easter eggs and a Pre-Loved
Treasures, which will benefit the  Chincoteague Pony Drill Team. Vendor applications are still being accepted . View our  newly redesigned website.

Now accepting donations for Pre-Loved Treasures Auction.  It's never too early to start your Spring Cleaning!  Donations can be dropped off to the Chamber office, 6733 Maddox Blvd., Mon-Sat 9am-4:30pm. Please include your name, mailing address and brief description of items.

Apr 14 - "Gone With The Wind" sponsored by the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. Island Theatre. 7pm. $5 admission. 4074 Main Street.

May 6 - 49th Annual Chincoteague Seafood Festival. Learn more. "Friends of the Festival" sponsorship, hospitality and vendor applications are now being accepted. Click here for application.

May 18 - Business After Hours with the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance. 5pm - 7pm. 6309 Church Street.

May 23 - Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce Awards Luncheon. The Village Restaurant.

May 24 - Ribbon Cutting at Chincoteague Island, VA KOA. 10 am. 6742 Maddox Blvd.

Jun 1 - Customer Service Seminar. More information to follow.
Ongoing Activities
 
NASA's Wallops Flight Facility 
nasa.gov/centers/wallops/  Launch Info: 757-824-2050
Future Launches:
Launch Window:  Apr 13-27     T ime: TBD     Mission: Technology Development
Vehicle: Terrier-Improved Malemute     T ype: Sub-orbital
Launch Window:  No Earlier Than May 2      Time: TBD      Mission: Technology Development
Vehicle: Black Brant IX      Type: Suborbital

NASA Visitor Center -  Open Tues-Sat 10am - 4pm   Free Admission 757-824-1344 
Gift Shop closed until March.
Mar 18 - Space Racers - 11am. Ages 4-8. Learn more
Mar 18 - STEM Saturday: Engineering Challenge Satellites - 2pm. Ages 6 & up. Registration required. Learn more.
Mar 25 - The GLOBE Observer Citizen Science App: Clouds.  11am - 12pm.  Want to be a citizen Earth scientist?  Download the GLOBE Observer app & learn how to record sky observations, identify cloud types, and compare them to NASA Satellite images to help scientists understand the sky from above and below. F ree for all ages. Learn more.
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Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague/   757-336-6122   Now thru March  Open 6am - 6pm
Due to hazardous conditions, both North & South OSV Zones are completely closed until further notice.
Bald Eagles Nest Updates  - 2 eggs have hatched! Visit the Herbert H. Bateman Center to view the new eagle cam! 

Herbert H. Bateman Center    Open 9am - 4pm
Youth Art Contest Celebrates 2017 International Migratory Bird Day  -  sponsored by Historic Main Street Merchants Association, is open to multiple age groups: K-2 grades; 3-5 grades; 6-8 grades, & 9-12 grades. A ll entries must be an original drawing in a medium of your choosing of a migratory bird that can be seen at CNWRefuge. No size requirement but not framed and submitted with entry form. Prizes awarded. M ail or deliver entries to Comfort Suites, 4195 Main Street, Chincoteague, VA  23336 on or before April 28. Artwork will be on display in Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center during the celebration.  Winners will be notified the week before and prizes will be presented  May 13 , at  noon , in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge auditorium. Contact  Sally Bowden at  757-336-6122 x 2314 with questions.

Chincoteague Natural History  Association      piping-plover.org      757-336-3696
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Assateague Island National Seashore  
nps.gov/asis/index.htm   757-336-6577 
Toms Cove Visitor Center   Open 9am - 4pm
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Chincoteague Bay Field Station
cbfieldstation.org      34001 Mill Dam Road, Wallops Island     757-824-5636 
Register for Spring Break & Summer Camps  is now open at: cbfieldstation.org/youth-camps
Register for summer internships and summer and travel courses happening now.
Register for summer college education classes. 
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Chincoteague Cultural Alliance Community Center for the Arts
chincoteagueculturalalliance.org   6309 Church Street   757-336-6117
Vendors - Now registering for 2nd Saturday Artful Flea, Chincoteague Island Farmers & Artisans Market. Holly Day Market and Wildlife Art Gallery sites. Call 717-495-7155 for more info.
Market Bags - Click here for info. Click here for order form.
Free Kids Art Classes - first Saturday of every month. 1pm
Mar 5-26 - Chincoteague Community Art Show. Bring artwork to CCA building on Feb 26 from 3pm - 5pm. Open to all. No jurying. chincoteagueculturalalliance.org/community-art-show.html 
Mar 18 - Island Coffeehouse - Featuring Hemlock Hollow, Guy Dedell & Greg Shupe. Doors open 6:30pm, show at 7pm. $5.00 adult. $3 student age 22 & under.
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Chincoteague Island Library
chincoteagueislandlibrary.org      4077 Main Street     757-336-3460
Open Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat - 10am - 5pm. Thurs 1pm - 7pm.
Tales 4 Tots Winter Season - Thursdays now thru May 25. 10 am. Ages 2-5 with adult
Nancy's Book Club2nd Thursday. 11 am. Guests and new members invited
Island Readers' Book Club - 3rd Tuesday. 7 pm  Guests and new members invited
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Island Theatre
islandtheatres.com   4074 Main Street   757-336-6109
Winter Film Series presented by Chincoteague Island Arts Organization ciarts.org
Fridays from Jan 13 - May 19. Tickets $5. 7pm. 
Mar 17 - The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) sponsored by Tom & Maribeth Lane 
Mar 24 - Never On Sunday (1966) sponsored by Spiro & Margaret Popadopoulos
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Museum of Chincoteague Island
chincoteaguemuseum.com   7125 Maddox Blvd.   757-336-6117
Beginning Mar 24 - Museum will be open Fri-Sun 11am - 5pm for the spring season. Discover new exhibits, enjoy expanded parking lot, & experience brand new hands-on items!
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Town of Chincoteague
chincoteague-va.gov   6150 Community Drive   757-336-6519 
- Watch Town meetings  live. Just click on the "Watch Town Meetings Live" button at the top right corner of their website or click here.
The Town's informational television station has moved from Channel 9 to Channel 190.
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A new Emergency Operations Center Facebook page will be active during a storm or emergency serving the citizens & visitors of Chincoteague Island. Click here for link.
Member News

American Legion Post #159      4023 Main Street     757-336-9749
Chincoteague Hometown Heroes Banners honoring active duty members who live on the island or whose immediate families live on the island. Stop by the legion or Town of Chincoteague Office to pick up application. No cost to the honoree or applicant/sponsor for 1st year, $30 fee for 2nd or 3rd year applicants. Deadline Apr 25.

Comfort Suites      4195 Main Street      757-336-3700      chincoteaguecomfortsuites.com  
Offering a "Shore Deal" for Delmarva Residents.  $75 rate from now until Mar 31.

Fairfield Inn & Suites, by Marriott, Chincoteague Island      shorecraftbeerfest.com
This year's Shore Craft Beer Fest:  Chincoteague celebrates local food & local beer & aims at expanding the popular notion of food and beer pairings.  Book your stay for April 28-30, Shore Craft Beer Hotel Package, including Overnight Accommodations, Breakfast for 2 each day & 2 tickets to the Shore Craft Beer Festival.  Book online or call the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott directly at 757-336-0043.

Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital     riversideonline.com/shore     
20480 Market Street, Onancock      800-834-7035
- Riverside Shore Cancer Center Earns the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
- Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital Among Top 100 in the U.S. -  One of only two Virginia hospitals nationally recognized as top performers among rural and community peers.

Pirate Ship Adventures     757-894-5714      littlepirateadventures.com
Looking for a fun-filled summer job? Pirate Ship Adventures is now hiring Pirate Management and Staff for the 2017 season. Hourly plus tips. Great weekend Hours. Starting EASTER weekend. All employees will be drug tested and background checks are required. Contact us on Facebook or call (757) 894-5714.
SPRING CONTENT NEEDED! 
Add your spring events, festivals, and packages to Virginia.org to be featured in the numerous blogs and articles we will be highlighting. Don't forget about St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break, outdoor activities, etc.  Log into the Admin Tool to get started. 
For more info email Robin at  rmamunes@virginia.org.
Attention Members
Information for inclusion must be submitted to joanne@chincoteaguechamber.com  by Wednesday each week.

Is your mini-webpage on chincoteaguechamber.com current? 
Email leaann@chincoteaguechamber.com with any changes.

Become a Member
Visit chincoteaguechamber.com or call 757-336-6161 to learn more. 
Let us help you grow your business.

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Information described herein is not sponsored or endorsed by the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, unless otherwise noted. Dates & events may be subject to change. For current information, please contact the event sponsor.
Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce & Certified Visitor Center
6733 Maddox Blvd., Chincoteague Island, VA 23336
  
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