Hickory – The Disney musical The Lion King, Jr. will not be on stage this weekend to accommodate the Hickory Downtown Development Association’s (HDDA) annual Oktoberfest celebration. Performances will resume next weekend on Thursday, October 18 and continue through October 28.

“Oktoberfest is an important event for the HDDA that we don’t want to compete and draw people away,” said John Rambo, the Theatre’s Managing Director. “This is also such a huge event, drawing over 100,000 people and there simply isn’t enough parking for both our patrons and those coming to Oktoberfest.”

Performances of Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. are October 18t through 28 with evening performances on Thursdays (Oct 18 & 25), Fridays (Oct 19 & 26) and Saturdays (Oct 20 & 27) at 7:30pm and matinee performances on Sundays (Oct 21 & 28) at 2:30pm.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and youth 18 & under. To purchase tickets call the box office at 828-328-2283 or visit hickorytheatre.org.

PHOTO: Jordan Embry is Mufasa and Auguste Thielemann is young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. at the Hickory Community Theatre. The family musical returns to the stage on October 18 and continues through 28th. Photo by Ken Burns.