Today's DAR
We are less than one month away from a spectacular weekend celebrating America 250! at DAR National Headquarters! Occurring on the eve of the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first major military action of the American Revolution, we have three fantastic events all celebrating and preserving the legacy of the ideals that founded our nation.
Celebrate America's 250th Birthday at DAR National Headquarters!
Weekend Highlights - DAR Celebrates America 250!
Friday, April 17
Illuminate 250: Member Welcome Reception
Event Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Register By: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 via Member’s Website Here!
We are kicking off our DAR Celebrates America 250! Weekend with the member’s only Illuminate 250 Welcome Reception in the lobby of historic DAR Constitution Hall. This evening is dedicated to you, our members, recognizing DAR’s long-standing legacy of service to the nation.
Enjoy refreshments and camaraderie with your fellow Daughters, complete with patriotic decorations and plenty of photo opportunities, as we begin this historic weekend together. This FREE event is open to all DAR members! Register Here.
Saturday, April 18
America’s 250th Birthday Party
Event Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
RSVPs recommended but not required: RSVP Via Eventbrite HERE
There are so many ways to celebrate America, and we are excited to be hosting this free public event where DAR members, families and friends, will be gathering for a morning of fun! Enter through the historic 17th street doors of Memorial Continental Hall to begin your experience. Activities occurring at DAR Headquarters include:
- Meet Martha Washington and learn more about the lives of historical figures from the Revolutionary War.
- Explore the newly opened Revolution in Their Words DAR Museum exhibit. This exhibition marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States by examining the nation’s founding through firsthand written accounts of those who lived it.
- Visit Preserving Patriotism: The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy at DAR in the Museum Study Gallery, a display that brings together signatures of all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Never before exhibited in their entirety, these signatures are among the most prized documents of the National Society from the DAR Americana Collection.
- Celebrate in style! Select a patriotic design from our face painting station.
- Genealogists of all ages can begin their journey of discovery with DAR resources in the DAR Library. Ask questions of our DAR librarians, genealogists, and members on how to start researching your lineage.
- Make a birthday wish with celebratory cupcakes.
- Visit the DAR Store and DAR Museum Store to shop for a commemorative keepsake.
DAR Celebrates America 250! – A Salute to Women Veterans, featuring Patti LaBelle
Event Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Tickets: Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster HERE
This special evening will honor America’s military women—past and present—by recognizing their courage, sacrifice, and contributions over the last 250 years. The program will spotlight the work of the Military Women’s Memorial, which preserves and shares the stories of women who have served our nation, as well as the 2026 recipients of the DAR Vivian's Outreach to Women (VOW) Grants, which provide assistance to organizations serving homeless and indigent women veterans.
The evening will begin with a short recognition program, followed by a full-length concert by Patti LaBelle, the iconic Godmother of Soul. Celebrated for her powerhouse vocals and timeless elegance, LaBelle returns to the DAR Constitution Hall stage—where she has performed many times throughout her remarkable 65-year career—to help us celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Join us for this once-in-a-generation celebration filled with meaningful tributes, joyful gatherings, and unforgettable experiences over these two wonderful days. Together, we will commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in a way that honors our history, uplifts our values, and brings our DAR community together.
Updates and additional details will be available at: www.dar.org/Celebrate250
