The Chincoteague Pony Swim also known as Pony Penning, or Pony Penning Days, is an annual event held in Chincoteague, Virginia on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. The event dates back to the 1800s and features the wild horses swimming across the Assateague Channel when the tide is “slack calm” so the young ponies, which are born during spring or early summer, are safe from any strong currents. The pony swim event is hosted by the Chincoteague Fire Department and consists of a pony swim on Wednesday and a pony auction on Thursday. For the pony swim, the Saltwater Cowboys round up feral Chincoteague ponies from Assateague Island and drive them across the Assateague Channel to Veteran’s Memorial Park on Chincoteague Island. Once on Chincoteague Island , the Saltwater Cowboys herd the ponies to pens on the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds where some of the foals are aucti...
The Chincoteague Pony Swim also known as Pony Penning, or Pony Penning Days, is an annual event held in Chincoteague, Virginia on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. The event dates back to the 1800s and features the wild horses swimming across the Assateague Channel when the tide is “slack calm” so the young ponies, which are born during spring or early summer, are safe from any strong currents. The pony swim event is hosted by the Chincoteague Fire Department and consists of a pony swim on Wednesday and a pony auction on Thursday. For the pony swim, the Saltwater Cowboys round up feral Chincoteague ponies from Assateague Island and drive them across the Assateague Channel to Veteran’s Memorial Park on Chincoteague Island. Once on Chincoteague Island , the Saltwater Cowboys herd the ponies to pens on the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds where some of the foals are aucti...
Join us in Abingdon for the 78th Virginia Highlands Festival, a multi-day celebration of art, music, food, history, and culture rooted in Southwest Virginia. In 1949, Robert Porterfield started something simple that grew into one of the region’s most recognized cultural events. Today, the Virginia Highlands Festival brings together art, music, food, history, and outdoor experiences—drawing visitors from across the country while staying deeply connected to Appalachia. Rare finds, timeless pieces, and one-of-a-kind treasures waiting to be discovered. Handcrafted work from talented artisans across the region and beyond. Flavors, techniques, and food traditions rooted in Appalachian culture. Local gatherings, workshops, and experiences that bring people together.
The 90th annual Old Fiddler's Convention runs August 3 through 8, 2026, in Galax, Virginia, billed by organizers as the world's oldest and largest gathering of its kind.
The Craft Village at the Old Fiddlers' Convention opens Monday, August 3, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, during the 90th annual convention running August 3 through 8, 2026, in Galax. The gathering is billed as the world's oldest and largest Old Fiddlers' Convention.
Steppin' Out features over 250 artists and crafts people from around the United States selling unique handcrafted items – jewelry, pottery, textiles, metal work, basketry, stained & fused glass, yard art, fine art, furniture, toys, artisan foods and so much more! Downtown Blacksburg merchants also hold their much-awaited final clearance sidewalk sales during Steppin' Out. The festival foods you love are provided by downtown restaurants. Listen to over 25 excellent musical acts all afternoon and well into the evening, both Friday and Saturday. Steppin' Out is Southwest Virginia's premier street celebration! Admission is free! Town of Blacksburg metered parking is all free and Blacksburg Transit has a route that runs from the UPPER CHICKEN HILL LOT to the VT NEWMAN LIBRARY. bUS RUNS 9:30AM TO 10PM. Bring your friends! Bring your family! The Main Stage provides continuous live music on C...
The Leesburg Festival of Kites and Crafts is an outdoor summer craft fair at Ida Lee Park, run by Chic Events DC. Vendors get a 10 by 10 foot space and must provide their own tent, tables and chairs, with setup starting two hours before the event and finishing 15 minutes before it begins. The 2026 edition sold out, so organizers say they will see vendors again in 2027.
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The Around The World Cultural Food Festival is a flagship event organized by Chic Events DC held at Oronoco Bay Park in Alexandria, VA. The festival celebrates culture and traditions of different countries through food and cultural performances. It attracts thousands of visitors each year and features ethnic food vendors from around the world. Vendor registration for the 2027 edition is open.
City guides with the venues that host festivals, who issues the permits, what the weather does to an outdoor season, and the local vendors worth calling.
