gallery
300 Queen Elizabeth Street
Manteo, North Carolina
gallery
300 Queen Elizabeth Street
Manteo, North Carolina
outer banks veterans Program
Celebrating Veterans in Dare County
2026 Veterans Writing Workshop
The 14th Annual Outer Banks Veterans Writing Workshop will be held in-person at the Coastal Studies Institute, ECU Outer Banks Campus in Wanchese from 9:30am to 3:30pm on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15.
Participants will learn about the hallmarks of creative writing, participate in a writing workshop, and engage with revision techniques as it relates to their own personal storytelling. They will work with Dario DiBattista, instructor for the Veterans Writing Project, and their peers on gaining new knowledge and writing and revision skills. At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to celebrate their efforts and read their improved creative works in front of friends, family, and community members.
To read DiBattista's bio, scroll down to the section below.
Beginner and experienced writers are invited to participate in this special workshop that is free for veterans, active-duty military and their extended family members.
Pre-registration is required for this workshop, and space is limited. Please register on the button below. Attendees will receive a confirmation email with more details after registration.
About Dario DiBattista
DiBattista, an instructor with the Veterans Writing Project, is the editor of the anthology Retire the Colors: Veterans & Civilians on Iraq & Afghanistan (Hudson Whitman / Excelsior College Press, 2016). His work has appeared in the Washingtonian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Baltimore Sun, the Connecticut Review, [Pank], Mic.com, and many other publications. Additionally, he's been profiled in The New York Times and has been a commentator on NPR, SiriusXM, and for the BBC. DiBattista served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 2001 to 2007, and later became a distinguished graduate of the Johns Hopkins University M.A. Writing Program.
The community is invited to take a trip down memory lane and experience Letters From Home, a heartfelt, powerful evening of song, dance, and storytelling, at The Pioneer Theater in Manteo on Saturday, November 7 at 7:00pm.
Coordinated by Dare Arts as a part of Outer Banks Veterans Week, Letters From Home is a patriotic tribute featuring timeless music from the 1940s through today with a mission to honor Veterans and unite people through music. The performance creates a meaningful experience for all ages with vintage flair, improv comedy, a dash of audience interaction, and a sentiment of pure positivity.
Having performed over 1,000 shows across the world, Letters From Home features high-energy singing and tap dancing by founder Erinn Dearth and her husband Dan Beckmann.
This performance is free and open to the public, but tickets must be reserved in advance on the button below. All seating is first come, first served. Doors will open at 6:30pm
Letters From Home Performance
Outer Banks Veterans Week runs from November 9-15, 2026.
Outer Banks Veterans Week is an annual event celebrating Veterans and their families through the arts. The purpose of the program is to showcase the Outer Banks as a welcoming destination for Veterans, active-duty military and their families, through special events, concerts, and ceremonies.
Dare Arts will be creating the Outer Banks Veterans Week Directory, which is a calendar of veteran celebrations, events, and specials from Corolla to Hatteras Village happening around Veteran’s Day.
Businesses or groups interested in listing their veteran events and/or specials in the directory should email DareArtsPrograms@gmail.com.
Ceremonies, specials, events and discounts for Veterans during Outer Banks Veterans Week will be available on the button below soon.
2026 Veterans Week Directory
Thank you to The Coastal Studies Institute, Roanoke Island Iand Dawn and David Enochs for sponsoring Outer Banks Veterans Week.
This project is sponsored by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.
This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Outer Banks Veterans Week has been supported by the Veterans Writing Project since its inception.
2026 Sponsors
