outer banks veterans Program
Celebrating Veterans in Dare County
2025 Veterans Writing Workshop
The 13th Annual Outer Banks Veterans Writing Workshop will be held at the Coastal Studies Institute, ECU Outer Banks Campus in Wanchese from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday, November 15.
North Carolina’s 7th Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti will be leading the workshop. During his time as Poet Laureate, Bathanti worked with military veterans and their families throughout the state, and beyond, particularly with Vietnam combat veterans struggling with PTSD and other invisible wounds of war. He is also an author, poet, educator, and the recipient of numerous other accolades. Click here to read Bathanti's full bio.
This year’s creative writing workshop, titled Where Your Life Still Matters: How Stories Save Us, is designed for participants to discover, in a safe, communal setting among peers, the core of their stories, and the voice in which to create and deliver those stories. Participants will be provided writing prompts developed by Bathanti as well as poems, stories, and nonfiction pieces written by military veterans, though the work created does not need to be military-centric.
Beginner and experienced writers are invited to participate in this special workshop that is free for veterans, active-duty military and their 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.
An Evening with Joseph Bathanti
Experience a special evening of poetry with North Carolina's 7th Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti at The Pioneer Theater in downtown Manteo on Saturday, November 15 at 7:00pm.
This event is open to the public, but tickets must be purchased in advance. Admission is free for Veterans, active-duty military and the writing workshop participants.
Tickets will be available on the button below soon.
Outer Banks Veterans Week runs from November 9-15, 2025.
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 DareArtsEvents@gmail.com..
Ceremonies, specials, events and discounts for Veterans during Outer Banks Veterans Week can be found on the button below soon.
2025 Veterans Week Directory
Thank you to The Coastal Studies Institute 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.
2025 Sponsors
