Lexington is considered the birthplace of western style North Carolina pork barbecue, and the small town has a yearly Barbecue Festival celebration featuring Lexington-style barbecue as well as kiddie rides, crafts, and entertainment.
What is North Carolina Barbecue?
North Carolina barbecue is different from barbecue in other parts of the country. It is pork slow smoked and then chopped and served on white bread or a bun. The eastern or coastal areas use whole hogs and straight vinegar mop sauce while the western area (the Piedmont) tends to do pork shoulders or butts, and the barbecue sauce is vinegar based but has a little red to it - from a tomato based product.
Western style North Carolina barbecue is often called Lexington-style barbecue, although some residents argue that Rowan County actually had the first shoulder chopped barbecue with vinegar red sauce. In any case, Lexington generally does get the credit and the name and bragging rights.
The Lexington Barbecue Festival features the western style barbecue with sauce served on buns. It’s not a barbecue competition, so the barbecue tents all serve what they call the signature sandwich which reflects the basic barbecue style of the area. Various barbecue joints in Lexington, NC, of course, have slight variations in terms of the barbecue and the sauces.
When is the Lexington Barbecue Festival?
Lexington always holds the Barbecue Festival near the end of October, and the main event is on a Saturday. The town has a number of barbecue activities throughout the month, but the big day is the actual Saturday festival day.
Tips for Visitors Headed to the Lexington, NC Barbecue Festival:
- Try to arrive early at the festival. You can park a block or two away from the main street area if you get to the festival by 9 am or so. You may pay $5 or so to park (which usually goes to a non-profit local group), but it’s convenient to have the vehicle close especially if you are making it an all day event and take lawn chairs and other comfort supplies.
- If you are not traveling heavy, it still helps to arrive early. But, park in one of the designated areas (Wal-Mart parking lot for example) and catch the bus over (cost is just a dollar or two). The buses run about every 15 to 20 minutes. The lines do back up around mid-day though going in. Return trips are easy to catch during the lunch rush.
- A backpack is a good idea. There are loads of crafts at the Barbecue Festival. If you see things you like, you’ll end up with your hands full which can make for juggling. Do look for the real North Carolina handmade crafts. Some of the vendors just have mass produced goods that are not that interesting.
- Pick up a schedule. There are six stages with various types of entertainment running the whole day. This includes a stage for children’s entertainment as well. Keep an eye on the time and be sure to catch the performers that sound like your style.
- Be sure to look for the homemade dips. The dip ladies usually offer samples, and the dips are great. You can buy recipe packs and be set for the holidays with some unique and easy to make chip and vegetable dips.
- For dessert, try to get one of the made-from-scratch apple pies. You can watch the ladies make them from rolling the dough to dropping the fried pies in the grease. That line is always long no matter what time of day.
- Talk to the locals. You will hear all kinds of stories and learn lots about North Carolina barbecue if you’re even the least bit friendly. Southerners are gracious and enjoy gabbing.
Cyndi Allison - Southern born and fed, Cyndi Allison is a college lecturer and newspaper advisor as well as being a freelance writer. She writes on ...
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