Chincoteague Pony Swim 2024: Follow along live here for all the latest updates
Boats gather, attendee living out 'childhood dream of seeing ponies'
Boats continued to gather along waterway as the crowd was entertained with music.
The stream of spectators grew from a trickle to a steady flow with chairs, umbrellas, and cameras in hand.
For Tammie Turner, of Texas, it was the first time seeing the horses in person.
“It’s like living a childhood dream of seeing ponies,” Turner said.
Big crowd arrives early because attendees 'just love the horses'
The rows of folding chairs lining Main Street of the town of Chincoteague, and the meandering tracks of mud boots in the marsh of the Virginia coast tell the story of another pony pending.
Even with only the calm waterways to enjoy, spectators already line the picket fence, waiting to get a glimpse of the famed band of aquatic courses.
“This is my first year, even though my mom has been here before. I just hope to get a good photo of them coming out of the water. I just love the horses,” said Maddie Harris of Connecticut as she trudged through knee-high water to a prime viewing spot.
A wet day to turn sunny for the beloved tradition
The annual pony penning celebration on Wednesday at Chincoteague's Wildlife Refuge will draw a huge crowd of pony lovers to brave the wet and muddy conditions.
The day is expected to start as a wet one and then turn sunny, with throngs lined up to watch the band of wild horses enjoy the life aquatic with their annual swim. For many, this is a family tradition, and for others, it is quirky part of living on the Delmarva Peninsula.
What is sure is that many will get a chance to see the horses up close, but at a safe distance either during their swim or in their subsequent parade through the town.
Follow along live here today, for the color on the ground right up to the big exciting swim.
Beebe Ranch update: Beebe Ranch, home to Misty of Chincoteague, gets its savior as museum completes purchase
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Live updates from Chincoteague Pony Swim 2024: Follow all the thrills