Dirty Dancing Festival Returns to Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia

The Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia, the original filming location for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing directed by Emile Ardolino, will host the second edition of the Dirty Dancing Days Summer Festival on August 16, 2025. The festival features live music, dance lessons, themed drinks, and activities inspired by the film. The movie, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, was produced on a budget of $6 million and grossed $213 million worldwide, winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for "(I've Had) The Time of My Life." The resort also offers themed weekends throughout the year. The article, written by Roberta Pisa for Artribune, recounts the plot: in the summer of 1963, Baby (Jennifer Grey), a privileged teenager, falls for dance instructor Johnny (Patrick Swayze) at a vacation resort, challenging social norms and her father's prejudices.