Festival Info

Festival Day Guidelines:

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, the following restrictions apply on festival day:

• No pets or animals
• No bicycles, skateboards, scooters, or rollerblades
• No radios or amplified sound
• No distribution of flyers, promotional materials, or other handouts without prior approval

Thank you for helping us keep the festival safe and enjoyable for all!

Festival Location:

The Lexington Barbecue Festival takes place in historic Uptown Lexington along Main Street and adjoining side streets, between 4th Street and 5th Avenue.

Getting to Lexington:

Lexington is located in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, approximately 20 miles south of Winston-Salem, near the intersection of US 29/70 and US 52. The city is also easily accessible via Business 85 and Interstate 85, between Greensboro and Charlotte.

RESTROOM LOCATIONS

Portable restrooms are conveniently located throughout the festival grounds at the following locations:

• 4th Street – Near Stage 3 and Sam’s Car Wash
• 3rd Street – Near the Lexington Police Department
• 2nd Street – Behind the Historic Courthouse at the Square
• 3rd Avenue – Barbecue Carnival/Family Area
• 3rd Avenue – Near Stage 4 and the Cork & Craft Hospitality Garden

LOST & FOUND / LOST CHILDREN

Lost & Found is located inside the Lexington Police Department.

If a child becomes separated from their family, please notify a police officer immediately. Festival staff will coordinate announcements from the stages to help reunite the child with their family.

Any lost child found by festival personnel will be escorted to the Lexington Police Department, where they will be safely cared for until reunited with their parent or guardian.

KEEPING THE FESTIVAL GREEN!

Help us keep the Lexington Barbecue Festival clean and green!

Recycling stations are located throughout the festival grounds. Please dispose of empty plastic beverage bottles and other accepted recyclable materials in the designated recycling containers.

Together, we can help keep our award-winning festival beautiful for everyone to enjoy!

NC BY TRAIN – SPECIAL BARBECUE FESTIVAL STOP

All aboard for the 42nd Annual Lexington Barbecue Festival on Saturday, October 24, 2026!

Skip the traffic and parking! NC By Train will make special, one-day stops in Lexington, bringing festivalgoers from Charlotte, Raleigh, and points in between.

The train will arrive at the Lexington Hospitality Center, located at 29 North Railroad Street, just one block from the festival!

Tickets are on sale now! Seats are limited, so book early.

• Tickets & Schedule: www.ncbytrain.org
• Station Code: LEX
• Train Stop: 29 North Railroad Street, Lexington, NC

Accessibility Notice: The temporary, one-day train stop is not ADA accessible.

Come ride the train and enjoy a full day of Lexington-style barbecue, live music, shopping, and festival fun!

• Parking for the Barbecue Festival is located throughout Uptown Lexington in private parking lots.
• Parking lots are operated by community groups with most charging a daily fee to park.
• IMPORTANT: We urge you not to park on side streets or alleys surrounding the festival. Vehicles parked illegally WILL be towed!