Chincoteague Island Christmas By The Sea 2013

...because even a cool day at the beach beats a day at work!

In an effort to attract more visitors to Chincoteague Island during the "off-season" local business owners and organizations have teamed up to sponsor the annual Christmas By The Sea. Beginning with the official lighting of the Town’s Christmas tree on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, then all the way to the Polar Pony Plunge on New Years Day, the Christmas season in Chincoteague is chock full of family fun! Most events are free to any and all who care to join in! It’s casual an you are encouraged to come as you are. The Christmas season is a great time of year to visit Chincoteague Island. The average air temperature in December is 50 degrees with sunny skies.

2013 Christmas By The Sea Event Schedule

• November 8th: Ugly Sweater Party
• November 25th: Community Thanksgiving Praise
• November 29th & 30th: 27th Annual Deborah Waterfowl Show/Auction
• November 30th: Chincoteague Christmas Tree Lighting
• December 4th: Kiwanis Old Fashioned Pancake Supper
• December 7th: "Homes for the Holidays" Home Tour
• December 7th: Old Fashioned Christmas Parade
• December 8th: Gingerbread Boss Competition
• December 15th: Children's Tea Party with Mrs. Claus
• December 31st: New Year's Eve Pony Island Horeshoe Drop & Costume Promenade
• January 1st: New Year's Day Polar Pony Plunge @ 1:14pm

A fund raiser to benefit the Museum of Chincoteague Island! Friday, Nov. 8th at 7:00 pm at The Chincoteague Museum (7125 Maddox Blvd - Chincoteague Island, VA). Advance tickets ONLY ... $30 each or 2 for $50 - Wear your ugliest sweater! Prizes will be awarded. A limited number tickets are available, NO tickets at the door.

All are welcome to attend! Refreshments will be served. All donations will benefit the "Chincoteague Food Pantry" and the "Chincoteague Island Benevolent Association". Monday, Nov. 25th at 7:00 pm at The Chincoteague Center (6155 Community Drive - Chincoteague Island, VA).

The last decoy show of the year for Chicnoteague carvers and artists. Come do your Christmas Shopping at the Chincoteague Combined School at 4586 Main St.

Festivities start at 5p.m. in the Robert Reed Downtown Park. Chincoteague's holiday season officially begins! There will be holiday songs and caroling. Town officials, dignitaries and local celebrities will be among those attending. All are invited to join in the celebration. Many shops will be open after the tree lighting to offer early holiday shopping.

In the true spirit of giving the Chincoteague Kiwanis Club holds its annual pancake supper on the first Wednesday in December. It is hosted by Bill's Seafood Restaurant (4040 Main Street) from 4:30pm-7:30pm. Kiwanis members and Bill's staff donate their time and tips to help families in need at the holidays. Tickets available from any Kiwanis Member, H & H Pharmacy or Mason Oil Co. Money raised will help make Christmas merrier for many this year. Kiwanis is an organization of volunteers....."Dedicated to Changing the World, One Child and One Community At A Time".

Who wouldn't want to be home for the holiday if it could be in any one of the dozen extraordinary Chincoteague Island homes that go on tour for "Homes for the Holiday", the 2013 Chincoteague Island Holiday Home Tour, from 12pm-4pm.

The event, expected to be popular with locals as well as our out-of-town guest, is a great opportunity to peek inside remarkable homes that represent the architectural integrity and diversity of our eclectic community. Decked out in their finest for the holidays, the tour homes will have docents on duty to point out the rich history, architecture, distinctive features and decorations of each home. PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS ($20) AT Threadgoodes(4211 Main Street).

This years’ benefactor is the Kiwanis, supporters of our food bank, children’s programs, and help with the needy. Offering annual scholarships to students and assistance in all aspects of the Island community, the $20.00 donation goes a long way in helping others.

Tickets are available in advance call 757-336-6858 or email lw6er@yahoo.com for details.

A MUST SEE! Starts 7p.m. Make sure to arrive in plenty of time to get the good seats.

A truly Old fashioned Christmas Parade, featuring floats, marching bands, color guards, Saltwater Cowboys, Fire Companies from around the shore, and much more. And YES! of course!... Santa himself will be making a special visit. There are prizes and awards in a variety of categories. The awards ceremony and up close visit with Saint Nick takes place at the Firehouse after the parade.

You're invited to watch the creative side of Islanders. Five Teams, three judges... ONLY ONE WILL BE THE BOSS!!! The competition is fierce and the contestants are raring to go in this bitter-sweet rivalry of sugary madness!! Don't miss this live interactive event with your hosts Vanilla Wafer & Pat Flapjack which promises to be great family fun along with a bundle of laughs.

$1 admission gets your Ginger Bread Network (GBN) voting card! Who will be the first to claim Confectionary supremacy? Entries from the preceding Gingerbread House Challenge will be judged & displayed for public viewing during the GINGERBREAD BOSS COMPETITION.

Gingerbread House decorators will have a chance to compete for the top prize in each category plus recognition for second and third places. Decorators must compete in all aspects of the competition.

The competition is open to anyone 18 and older, men or women, and NO ENTRY FEE is required. The registration deadline is Nov. 18, 2012. Entrants must submit an entry form listing all team members’ names.

1-4 p.m.
at The Chincoteague Center
6155 Community Drive

Mail entry forms to:
4040 Main Street
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336
DOWNLOAD: GINGERBREAD BOSS ENTRY FORM

Children's Tea Party with Mrs. Claus takes place at 2pm at the Hampton Inn (4179 Main Street Chincoteague Island).

While Santa Claus hustles and bustles in preparation for the big night, Mrs. Claus is doing much more than sugaring Santa’s cookies and shining his shoes.

Once again, Mrs. Claus, accompanied by Santa’s elves, will travel all the way from the North Pole to be the guest of honor at the Christmas By the Sea children’s tea party at the Hampton Inn, Main Street Chincoteague.

The event has garnered so much attention, and with limited seating you must call now to reserve your child’s seat for 2PM.

“Santa agreed that I could come,” said Mrs. Claus . “It’ll be lots of fun.”

Mrs. Claus, who knows Santa better than anyone, will show the children a scrapbook of her life with Santa. She’ll offer sing-a-long Christmas songs, games and gifts.

After the children have had their hot cocoa, kid-sized sandwiches and Christmas cookies, they’ll have an opportunity to have their photo taken with the Queen of the North Pole.

“They’ll learn things that will surprise them,” said Mrs. Claus.

Pre-paid reservations are required at $15 per person. Call 757-894-0924. The children are encouraged to dress for a tea party. Accessories will be available for guests who do not have something. The Hampton Inn has free parking, easy access, and room for those escorting our Tea Party guests.

The Pony Island Horseshoe Drop & Costume Promenade starts at 10:00p.m. in the Robert Reed Downtown Park. Join us for New Years Eve!

The Pony Island Horseshoe Drop is an end of year celebration that culminates in a promenade of crazy costumes just before the countdown to the stroke of midnight. That's when the lighted horseshoe drops just in time to ring in the New Year! ....It's not Swarovski Crystal...but it does sparkle!

Wear your favorite costume or just be a spectator. This year's theme is SPACE COWBOYS & ISLAND INDIANS!!

It's our heritage. Not only are we home to the World Famous Saltwater Cowboys, we are famous out of this world too, that's right, just a lassos throw away from the Country's Original Space Port, (Wallops Island). So if you show up lookin' like a Cowboy an Alien, or whatever, don't worry, It's all perfectly natural here!

To become totally immersed in the oddest of silly visual spectacles, you should head for the Downtown Waterfront Park around 10:00PM.

Prizes will be awarded in various categories.

Bring your camera to capture the spectacle, dress warm, wear a hat and gloves for sure, and comfortable shoes so you can shimmy and dance to the beat, but most importantly; bring family and friends with you to enjoy the grand fun that is all Chincoteague!

New Years Day (January 1, 2014)... Polar Pony Plunge (Wednesday, 1/1/14 @ 1:14 PM)

...Even a cool day at the beach beats a day at work!

On the beach, Assateague Island VA look for the pony..and the crowd!!!

Surf’s Up! Hang Ten, Catch a Wave, or Take a Dip... whatever floats your boat.

Dress up, dress silly, or wear mittens and a scarf, just be the first on the first!

Nothing can compare to the invigorating feeling you get by plunging into the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean! It really is an awesome experience. There will be lots of fun all around. Plungers are encouraged to dress up in the zaniest, craziest costume they can come up with!

To convince the skeptics back at work, get a t-shirt to memorialize every chilling detail!

Prizes await the best costumes in many categories, and more! Just remember, if you decide to plunge, you'll need to read and sign the Plunge Waiver and Release Form. There is NO fee to enter the water.

Don't be left out in the cold!

Too Chicken to Plunge? You can still offer enthusiasm, and dip a finger or big toe in. Hey, be proud, and stand tall, someone had to hold the towel! And you can still buy a T-shirt!

CLICK HERE to download ENTRY FORM & details... All participants must read form thoroughly and sign to enter.

Stop by and see the Christmas decorations at Bill's Seafood Restaurant (4040 Main Street, Chincoteague).

This article was published by Chincoteague.com on 10/26/2013.
Receive more articles like this one, delivered to you, by subscribing to our RSS Feed!