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

45TH ANNUAL CHINCOTEAGUE OYSTER FESTIVAL
October 7, 2017     |     10am - 4pm
Tom's Cove Park

Tickets are $45/person (under age 5 is free)
Purchase tickets while they last at
757-336-6161 or 6733 Maddox Blvd.


Oysters! Oysters! Oysters! On the Half Shell, Steamed, Single Fried and Frittered.
Clam Fritters, Clam Chowder, Shrimp Cocktail, Salad Bar, Hot Dogs, Hush Puppies, Boardwalk Fries, Coffee/Hot Chocolate, Water & Soft Drinks.
Domestic/Craft Beers and Desserts for purchase.

Live music by festival favorite Island Boy.

Gates open at 10am. Appetizers served at 11am. Full festivities at Noon.

Be a part of the tradition and celebrate the arrival of oyster season.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS


Now is a great time to join the Chamber and secure your space in the 2018 Visitor's Guide, with 110,000 print copies and online presence .
  Learn more  and let us help you promote your business.

ATTENTION CURRENT MEMBER
If you have any questions regarding your membership or advertisement, contact Lea Ann at leaann@chincoteaguechamber.com.

Maddox Blvd Multi-Modal Transportation Enhancement Project Stakeholder's Meeting
September 20, 2017     |     5pm
Town Council Chambers, 6150 Community Dr.

Public input is a critical element of successful project design. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service awarded the Town a $1.5 million grant to be used for the improvement of sidewalks and bike/pedestrian trails that connect the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) with the historic downtown section of Town.   

Anticipated improvements will provide safer bicycle and pedestrian access to a large number of refuge visitors while reducing vehicular traffic in and around the Town of Chincoteague.    The bulk of the improvements will occur in the Main Street/ Maddox Boulevard corridor. Clark Nexsen, the project engineering firm, will be in attendance to receive your input. Please plan to attend and share your ideas.
What's Happening

Sep 15  -  Sunset Cruise Aboard the Martha Lou to benefit Museum of Chincoteague Island  - Tickets $45/person available at Museum. Food and beverage served. Rain date Sep 17. Leaves Slip #60 Curtis Merritt Harbor at 5pm. Arrive by 4:45pm. Learn more.

Sep 16 -  Annual Beach Cleanup  -  Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  Registration begins 8am at Hebert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Parking lot.  B ring water & sunscreen. Wear comfortable footwear. Trash bags, gloves & data sheets provided. Receive a free T-shirt & entrance fee will be waived. Sp onsored by Accomack County, Assateague Island National Seashore, Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague Natural History Association, Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, The Ocean Conservancy, Virginia Clean Waterways and the Town of Chincoteague. fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague/    

Sep 16 - Live Music  at American Legion Post 159 with Virginia Creek 7pm. 4023 Main Street. No cover. Open to the public. chincoteaguelegion159.org

Sep 23 -  MARSH Fest  -  Taste the best in regional brews & local food. Chincoteague Bay Field Station, 34001 Mill Dam Road, Wallops Island. Enjoy live bands & performers from up & down the Coast. Engage in hands-on experiences with nearby farmers, artisans & researchers. Explore all the marsh has to offer. 12noon - 6pm.  Visit  marshfest.org  for tickets & more info.

Sep 24 - Annual Sunset Cruise to benefit Chincoteague Cultural Alliance. 4:30pm. Tickets $40 each & include cruise, appetizers, & beverages. Purchase tickets online (credit card) or at Sundial Books or H&H Pharmacy (cash or check). Rain date Oct 1. Learn more.

Sep 27Red Cross Blood Drive9am - 2pm. Chincoteague Coast Guard Station. Learn more.
Save the Date

Oct 7 - 45th Annual Chincoteague Oyster Festival . Tom's Cove Park. Celebrate the seafood festival and the arrival of oyster season! 8128 Beebe Road. 10am - 4pm. Tickets currently on sale! Learn more .

Oct 11 - Chamber Networking Luncheon. Join us at Don's Seafood Restaurant on the second Wednesday of each month from October to April for our Member Networking Luncheons. Bring your business cards and make valuable connections with other Chamber members to grow your business/organization while enjoying a delicious lunch. Noon - 1pm. $10/person + tip.
More info to follow.

Oct 13-14 - Fall Roundup. Learn more.

Oct 18 - Financial Wellness Fair. Sponsored by Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. Hosted by The Chincoteague Center. 6155 Community Drive. 9:30am - Noon. More information to follow. Seeking Accountants, Attorneys, Bankers, Financial Advisers, Insurance Agents, Realtors, Tax Preparers & Other Mercantile Services. Cultivate Financial Wellness. Meet Prospective Clients. Promote Your Business. Contact Joanne at joanne@chincoteaguechamber.com if you are interested in participating. Event will be free and open to the public. 

Nov 3 - Stronger Community Through Stories Free Storytelling for Your Business Seminar.
Lead by Donald Davis "Dean of Storytelling". Chincoteague Cultural Alliance Community Center for the Arts. 6309 Church Street. 1pm - 2pm. In adjunt to the Chincoteague Storytelling Festival. Light refreshments provided or bring a bag lunch. RSVP by Oct 31 to
cndy_fth@yahoo.com or 757-894-1953. Learn more.
Ongoing Activities
 
NASA's Wallops Flight Facility 
nasa.gov/centers/wallops/   Launch Info: 757-824-2050
Future Launches
Sep 21-Oct 1 Launch Window. ASPIRE Black Brant IX   Suborbital. 6:45 am - 10:15am. 
Launch Viewing Information

NASA Visitor Center -  nasa.gov/centers/wallops/visitorcenter      757-824-1344
Open Tues - Sat. 10am - 4pm. Free Admission.
Sep 16 - Peculiar Planet. 2p m - 2:15pm.
Sep  23 - Solar System Activities. 11am - 11:30am.
Sep 23 - Hands-On Activities at MARSH Fest. Noon - 6pm.


Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague/   757-336-6122   Open 5am - 10pm
Herbert H. Bateman Center     Open 9am - 5pm
Follow OSV updates on Twitter at @ChincoteagueOSV
Now thru Oct 6 - CNWR Annual Pass Photo Contest  - Learn more at

Chincoteague Natural History  Association      piping-plover.org      757- 336-3696
Lighthouse - Fri - Sun weather permitting 9am - 3pm. Closed Noon-12:30pm.
RefugeTrek - Weekends at 10am & 4pm. $14 adults. $7 children. 


Assateague Island National Seashore  
nps.gov/asis/index.htm   757-336-6577 
Toms Cove Visitor Center    Open 9am - 4pm


Chincoteague Bay Field Station
cbfieldstation.org      34001 Mill Dam Road, Wallops Island     757-824-5636


Chincoteague Cultural Alliance Community Center for the Arts
chincoteagueculturalalliance.org   6309 Church Street   757-336-6117
Free Kids Art Classes - first Saturday of every month. 1pm
Chincoteague Island Farmers and Artisans Market - Sat. thru 10/28. 9am - 1pm.  New vendors welcome. Preregistration required.  Call or text 717-495-7155 for more info.
Kitchen Gallery - Sundays.  3pm - 5pm. Flight - Now thru Oct. 15From rockets to birds, airplanes to balloons and more! 
Community Bingo - Last Monday of the month. 1pm.
Sep 16 - Island Coffeehouse.  7pm. Doors open 6:30pm. $5 admission ($3 for 21 & under with ID). Homemade sweets, coffee, wine, beer & soft drinks available.
Sep 22 - Mini Market Friday. 9am - 2pm. 


Chincoteague Island Library
chincoteagueislandlibrary.org      4077 Main Street     757-336-3460
Open Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat - 10am - 5pm. Thurs 1pm - 7pm. 
Tales for Tots - Ride Into Reading. Thursdays from Sept 14 - Dec 14 (except Thanksgiving Day).  10am. Ages 2-5. Open to all. No registration required. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Nancy's Book Club - 2nd Thursday. 11 am. Guests and new members invited
Island Readers' Book Club - 3rd Tuesday. 7 pm  Guests and new members invited


Island Theatre
islandtheatres.com   4074 Main Street   757-336-6109     Check website for times.
Now thru Sep 14 - Wind River (R)
Sep 15-21 - Logan Lucky (PG13)


Museum of Chincoteague Island
chincoteaguemuseum.com   7125 Maddox Blvd.   757-336-6117   
Open Fri - Sun 11am - 5pm.   $4 Adults. Free 12 years & under, active military, & museum members.  Field trips available.
Sep 15 - Museum will be closing at 4pm due to Sunset Cruise fundraiser.


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.
-
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

Chincoteague Island KOA     6742 Maddox Blvd.     757-336-3111 
Sep 14-17Bikefest Scavenger Hunt. Calling all Bikefest Bikers to a 4-day, tri-state scavenger hunt across the Delmarva Peninsula. Get clues at  Chincoteague Island KOA or Massey's Landing in Millsboro. Collect all clues to learn the final destination & submit to the secret destination by 1pm Sep 17.  Party at final destination - food, drink, raffles, music & &1,000 cash prize to winner.  Pre-purchase tickets for  $25 per bike,  at the door, $30 per bike.  Proceeds benefit Special Olympics of Virginia and Hogs and Heroes, MD8.  Learn more at   srinck@chincoteagueislandkoa.com  or  Chincoteague Island VA KOA .

Marina Bay Hotel & Suites     3801 Main Street     757-336-3500     staymarinabay.com
Hurricane Relief - Will donate part of the hotel's entire month's revenue to Harvey victims. They are also arranging a local fund drive to help with the hotel's pledge.  Make a donation directly to the victims of hurricane Harvey, simply by staying at the Marina Bay Hotel.

Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital      20480 Market Street,  Onancock      757-302-2140
riversideonline.com
Sep 23 - Auxiliary Ball. Dinner. Dancing. Silent Auction. Fellowship. 6pm - Midnight. Ker Place, 69 Market Street, Onancock. Learn more at auxiliaryhospitalball@gmail.com or facebook.com/rsmhball
Vote  for Southern Living's "2018 South's Best Awards"
at  southernliving.com/southsbestvoteVoting is open to October 7, 2017.
CONTENT NEEDED! Want to be included in a blog or an article on Virginia.org? Check out our content marketing calendar for things we are working on. You must be listed on Virginia.org for possible inclusion in any blog or article. 
Log into the  Admin Tool  to get started. Email Robin at  rmamunes@virginia.org  for assistance or Patricia at  pkeppel@virginia.org  for blog questions.   View content calendar for 2017.

Attention Museum Directors, Boards & Volunteers
Chesapeake Connections: Training for Impactful Visitor Experience
A Workshop for Museum Professionals in Virginia -  Virginia Tourism Corporation & the National Park Service are teaming up to help small local museums create engaging and meaningful visitor experiences.  Participants will learn basic interpretive techniques, how to incorporate hands-on techniques, where to look for potential funding sources, and how to marketing museums and programs.  The workshop will also explore ways for new programs to connect to the themes of the upcoming Virginia commemorations, the USA 250 initiative, and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
 
Feature speakers will include local tourism directors, representative from Virginia Tourism Corporation, and representatives from the National Park Service.  This will be a hands-on workshop and every participant will leave with a binder of program ideas and marketing opportunities.
 
October 26, 2017 Comfort Suites, Chincoteague, Virginia
Workshops will be 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with sign-in starting at 9:30 a.m.
Registration Required. Click here to register.
 
There is no cost for the workshop. Advance registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided.  For more information contact Kate Marks Hardy with National Park Service at  410-260-2480   Kate_marks@nps.gov  or Staci Martin with Virginia Tourism Corporation at 757-390-7330  smartin@virginia.org


Reach more visitors by adding your business listing and event info to  esvatourism.org, the free comprehensive website for tourism on Virginia's Eastern Shore. For more info, email  info@esvatourism.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.
 
Share your photos with us on social media!  #chincochamber
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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