Lexington, NC

Lexington Barbecue Festival

Each year in late October as many as 200,000 visitors experience Lexington firsthand during the signature annual Barbecue Festival. As cited by Wikipedia, "the annual event is listed in the book 1000 Places to See in the USA & Canada Before-You-Die, a part of the series based on the best-selling 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.

In 2014, CNN ranked the City of Lexington as #5 in the list of 12 best meat cities in America! 

The Barbecue Festival has been named one the 2018 Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 events. The event has also been mentioned in many publications including the Travel Channel, Southern Living magazine, and named the official food festival of the Piedmont Triad region.

In June 2016, FOX NEWS featured Lexington's Barbecue Festival as one of America's Top 10 ultimate barbecue festivals based on a contest promoted by USA TODAY allowing Barbecue Lovers to vote for their favorite BBQ Festival. Lexington's Barbecue Festival made the cut!

The festival consists of hundreds of exhibitors, multiple stages of free entertainment showcasing tremendous artists, and of course, world famous Lexington style barbecue.

Bigger and better than ever, the 30th Annual Festival held in 2013 demonstrated why the Barbecue Festival has also been recognized as one of the Top Ten Food Festivals in the U.S.A. by Travel and Leisure Magazine and as one of the Top Ten Great Places to Celebrate Food by USA Today!

We hope to see you on October 26th at the 40th Anniversary Barbecue Festival. 

National Geographic cites Lexington's Barbecue Festival in the list of Free to See: 20 U.S. Food and Drink Events; while the Huffington Post lists the festival as one of America's 14 Best Small-Town Festivals. TopValueReviews.net lists Lexington in its look at 30 of the Best Small-Town Festivals in North America.

Pictured left to right: Country music artist Darius Rucker performed at the 2013 Barbecue Festival. American Idol winner, Caleb Johnson, performed at the 31st Barbecue Festival in 2014!    

Lexington Multicultural Festival

The Lexington Parks and Recreation Department presents the Multicultural Festival each year on the first Saturday in May.  The Multicultural Festival is a day filled with the sights, sounds and tastes of foreign lands. This event offers a wonderful and educational outing for the entire family and showcases cultural diversity through elaborate costumes, musical instruments, exhibits and entertainment.

The festival focuses on five major cultural areas: African American, European, Asian, Latino, and Native American, with many nationalities represented within them. Stages will feature entertainment from around the world. Visitors will experience new vendors and performers as well as family favorites, and be immersed in a variety of different cultures from around the world!

This festival is free to the public, and attracts thousands of people, from Davidson County and surrounding cities and states.

Golf and Area Recreation Activities

To accommodate a healthy lifestyle, the City of Lexington provides an extensive list of recreational activities. Facilities include parks, tennis courts, athletic fields, walking trails, pools, and basketball courts conveniently located around Lexington.  

If golf is your favorite game, you are sure to enjoy the City’s municipally owned 18-hole championship golf course, Lexington Golf Club.  Book your tee time today! 

If water activities are an enjoyment to you and your family, be sure to check out surrounding attractions such as High Rock Lake (shown here) - Enjoy solitude and tranquility or dock your  boat, fish, or enjoy a family kayak or canoe trip!  Lots of attractions all around our Lexington city limits!

Visit these additional links for more information about local events and attractions:

• Visit Lexington, NC
• Map of Local Attractions in Davidson County
• High Rock Lake
• Lexington Community Links 

Please review transportation and accommodation options and make plans today to visit us! 

If you would like additional information, please contact the Lexington Visitor's Center or contact us. We welcome you to Lexington, NC!

To stay abreast of future events in Lexington, be sure to Sign up for eNews or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!