From Staff Reports

LAKE LURE —  The annual Lake Lure Dirty Dancing Festival will be replaced this year by the First Annual Lake Lure Dance Festival — featuring live music, dance and dance lessons, food, handicrafts and games — from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept 16 at Morse Park here.

While the “Dirty Dancing Festival of Lake Lure” has been a popular event, financial and contractual obligations required by Lionsgate (a Hollywood studio that owns the rights to “Dirty Dancing”) have made it too difficult for the local Chamber of Hickory Nut Gorge to offer that festival this year, organizers told the Daily Planet earlier in 2023.

As for this year’s festival, “The Asheville Ballet will not only inspire you with their creative choreography and engaging performances, they’ll be teaching you the steps from some of your favorite dance moves!” a promotion stated. 

“If you’re ready to dance, the music will be HOT! This year’s theme of ‘Cool Dips & Hot Salsa’ brings back the flavors of previous dance festivals in Lake Lure, while adding some spice! AND, Franke Previte & Lisa Sherman (singing ‘The Time of My Life’) will be back! Catch them on stage with Continental Divide, so you can once again ‘Have The Time of Your Life!’” 

The band lineup is as follows: 

• Pleasure Chest, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Picante, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

• Continental Divide, 4:30-6 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. 

The evening will conclude under the stars, with a screening of the film classic “Dirty Dancing, which was partially filmed at Lake Lure.  

For tickets, which are $47, visit online at www.lakeluredancefestival.com.