Liberty & Light: A Washington’s Victory Tree Celebration in Dare County

Date: December 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Dare County Administration Building, 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr., Manteo, NC 27954

About the Celebration

Dare County and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Virginia Dare Chapter, will come together for an event honoring Revolutionary history and bringing Dare County’s America 250 commemorations to a close.

On Monday, December 7, 2026, the lobby of the Dare County Administration Building will host “Liberty & Light: A Washington’s Victory Tree Celebration” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The gathering will conclude Dare County’s America 250 (Dare A250) program, a yearlong series of efforts recognizing the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.

The Washington’s Victory Tree project recalls General George Washington’s historic Christmas-night crossing of the Delaware River in 1776. After months marked by military setbacks, declining supplies and expiring enlistments, Washington guided approximately 2,400 Continental soldiers over the icy river in a bold action that helped shift the course of the American Revolution.

Visitors can expect music, light refreshments and DAR members wearing colonial attire. The program will also offer opportunities to see the 24-foot Victory Tree, explore more about the American Revolution and the events of 1776, and view the DAR Virginia Dare Chapter’s America 250 quilt.

As part of the Liberty & Light celebration, the Dare A250 time capsule will be buried at the Dare County Administration Building on December 7, 2026. More information, including the burial ceremony’s time, will be announced soon.