Outer Banks Veterans Week begins November 9 at Dare Arts

Each November, the Outer Banks community puts together ceremonies, unique events, and specials for Outer Banks Veterans Week, which will run November 9-15 this year.

The purpose of Outer Banks Veterans Week, which is organized by Dare Arts, is to showcase the Outer Banks as a welcoming destination for Veterans, active-duty military and their families.

Dare Arts has two special events planned for Outer Banks Veterans Week, both of them featuring North Carolina’s 7th Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti who is known for his extensive work with military veterans and their families.

The 13th Annual Outer Banks Veterans Writing Workshop, which will be facilitated by Bathanti, will be held at The Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday, November 15. This year’s creative writing workshop, titled Where Your Life Still Matters: How Stories Save Us, is designed for participants to discover the core of their stories, and the voice in which to create and deliver those stories.

“The Outer Banks Veterans Writing Workshop gives participants the opportunity to explore new ways of discussing their experiences in a supportive and collaborative environment,” said Dare Arts Program Director Robert Rogers. “The workshop honors Veteran’s voices, celebrates their service and unites the human experience through the imagination of its writers.”

Only three spots remain for the writing workshop, which is free for Veterans, active-duty military and their family members.

Although the workshop is free, pre-registration is required. You can register online at DareArts.org/veterans or by calling Dare Arts at 252 473 5558.

There will also be a public event, where members of the community can experience a special evening of poetry with Bathanti at The Pioneer Theater in downtown Manteo on Saturday, November 15 at 7:00pm. Bathanti will read selections from his poetry, fiction, and personal essays that span his writing life of nearly five decades.

Admission to “An Evening with Joseph Bathanti” is $5 for Veterans and active-duty military. General admission tickets are $10 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at ThePioneerTheater.com and at the door.

These events plus Veteran ceremonies, specials, and other events happening from Southern Shores to Hatteras Island can be found in the Outer Banks Veterans Week Directory, which is curated by Dare Arts.

The free digital directory can be found online at DareArts.org/veteransdirectory.

For more information about Outer Banks Veterans Week, visit DareArts.org/veterans or call 252 473 5558.

Thank you to the Coastal Studies Institute, The Roanoke Island Inn, The Pioneer Theater, The Veterans Writing Project, Harris Teeter, Starbucks, Country Deli, and Hotel Manteo for sponsoring Outer Banks Veterans Week.

This project is sponsored by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

This project is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.

In 2025, Dare Arts is commemorating its 50th anniversary by celebrating its past, present, and future. Dare Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization dedicated to encouraging the arts in Dare County through advocacy, enrichment and opportunity.

The Veterans Writing Project is a 501(c)(3) that provides no-cost creative writing and songwriting workshops across the country.