Riding the Rails to the Lexington Barbecue Festival: New Friends, No Parking Hassles, and Plenty of Pork
Opinion
By Davidson Local Staff
LEXINGTON — There’s something charming about the old-school romance of train travel — especially when it leads straight to the heart of one of North Carolina’s most beloved traditions: the Lexington Barbecue Festival.
This Saturday, October 25, the NC By Train BBQ Express will make its annual one-day-only stop in Lexington, delivering passengers from across the state right to the sizzle and smoke of Uptown. The temporary platform at 29 North Railroad Street sits just one block from the festival, making it easy to step off the train and step right into the aroma of bbq and happiness.
A Rolling Prelude to Pork
The special train service departs from Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury, Kannapolis, and Charlotte, offering eight opportunities to hop aboard — four from each direction. The crowd is always chill: first-timers snapping selfies, families sharing chop, retirees swapping sauce secrets, and diehard barbecue fans planning their tasting routes before the first stop. Greeters are always on-site with a flurry of stories.
More Than Just a Ride
The NC By Train crew knows how to turn a commute into an experience. Riders can skip the stress of parking, traffic, and shuttle lines — all while enjoying roomy seats, scenic views and wifi for those who need it.
Last year, NC By Train celebrated record ridership, and this event is one of its most popular. For one day only, the train transforms into a community on wheels — with strangers trading barbecue recommendations, kids pressing noses to the window as the Piedmont rushes by, and festival-goers planning their route through Lexington’s legendary style.
Festival Fun Awaits
Once you arrive, the Lexington Barbecue Festival promises a full day of music, crafts, and — of course — barbecue. The streets fill with thousands of visitors eager to sample the town’s signature sauce, served with red slaw, hushpuppies, and Southern charm.
If You Go
Festival Stop: 29 N Railroad St., Lexington, NC 27292
Event Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Train Tickets: www.ncbytrain.org or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (City Code: LEX)
Train Arrival Times (Lexington stop):
From Raleigh toward Charlotte: 8:48 a.m., 12:18 p.m., 3:03 p.m., 5:48 p.m.
From Charlotte toward Raleigh: 7:55 a.m., 11:32 a.m., 3:27 p.m., 6:05 p.m.
Note: This is a temporary, one-day stop. ADA accessibility is not available..
Nothing says “Carolina fall” quite like barbecue, trains, and a shared table of strangers turned friends.
