The 89th Anniversary Season of The Lost Colony commemorates the 439th birthday of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World on August 18th, 1587. The Lost Colony continues its long-celebrated tradition of using real babies during the performance on Virginia Dare’s birthday.
The Virginia Dare Night Celebration in 2026 will take place on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026. Being a “Virginia Dare Baby” is a coveted role in the community that many local citizens have embraced. For Virginia Dare Night only, the prop baby, swaddled in blankets, is replaced with these special guests. Virginia Dare Night is generously sponsored by First National Bank.
To be considered for the honor of appearing on stage, all babies must attend an audition meeting on Saturday, August 1, at 10am in The Lost Colony Admin Building located beside the Elizabethan Gardens within Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. The address for The Lost Colony admin building is 1409 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27949.
The casting is open to all cheerful boys and girls weighing 15 pounds or less. All Virginia Dare babies must be available for several hours on the evening of August 18th for pre-show preparation and for The Lost Colony performance. All selected Virginia Dare babies will be introduced from the stage prior to the performance at 8:30 PM.
For more information, contact Matt Gabbard, 252-473-2127 or mgabbard@thelostcolony.org.
