Barbecue Festival Road Closures Set to Begin Today

The Lexington Police Department has also posted this information: [LPD Facebook post]

LEXINGTON, N.C. — Full street closures for the 42nd Lexington Barbecue Festival begin at 4:00 p.m. today, and a new 24-hour temporary no-parking restriction takes effect at 12:00 a.m. Saturday inside the festival boundaries, the City of Lexington and the Lexington Police Department announced.

STREET CLOSURES

Full street closures for the entire festival area begin at 4:00 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 23. The area includes Main Street from 4th Street to 5th Avenue and all adjacent blocks between State Street and Salisbury Street, as well as the Amphitheater area. Drivers are encouraged to avoid Uptown this afternoon, this evening and tonight.

TEMPORARY NO PARKING

New this year, a temporary no-parking restriction applies anywhere inside the festival boundaries from 12:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 until 12:00 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Signs are posted throughout Uptown and around the boundaries. Drivers should move their vehicles before midnight tonight. Vehicles in violation may be ticketed or towed.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The festival is free and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine. The opening ceremony is at 9 a.m. at the Grandstand Stage on the Square, and the barbecue tents open at 10 a.m. Free parking and a free shuttle are available at Childress Vineyards, 1000 Childress Vineyards Road, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. NC By Train is making special stops at 29 N. Railroad St., one block from the festival; tickets are available at ncbytrain.org (station code LEX).

SAFETY

The Lexington Police Department is ready to help keep the festival safe. Anyone who sees or hears something concerning should tell an officer or call LPD's non-emergency number 336-243-3302. In an emergency, always call 911.

The full schedule, map and rules are at thebarbecuefestival.com.