When
Joe Sink, Jr., publisher of THE DISPATCH, discussed his love of
festivals with BB&T officials in 1983 he had no idea that it
would lead to Lexington hosting one of the country's most
popular food festivals.
BB&T and THE DISPATCH agreed to hire Kay Saintsing, a local
organization developer and manager, to complete a feasibility
study on a new community event. With Saintsing's research and
recommendations in hand both companies felt it was time to
launch the first annual Barbecue Festival in Lexington on
October 27, 1984. Event specialist Kay Saintsing and her staff
at Saintsing Management Services (now Preferred Events) produced
the festival. Preferred Events now works throughout the year
planning Lexington's largest event.
Critical to the success of the event was the special cooperation
given the festival by the City of Lexington, Davidson County, as
well as the owners of the popular barbecue restaurants
throughout the area.
Today,
the festival has become an annual tradition that is held on one
of the last two Saturdays in October. The 28th Annual Barbecue
Festival is set for Saturday, October 22nd, 2011. In addition to
the festival, the City of Lexington and Davidson County
officially declared October as "Barbecue" month. Events are held
throughout the month of October which lead to the grand finale,
the Barbecue Festival. Events that are held during the month of
October include the Tour de Pig - the annual cycling event
benefiting the Mental Health Association in Davidson County.
Also included are a golf tournament, a tennis tournament, the 5K Hawg run, and the Hawg Shoot Air Rifle Tournament. All of these
events draw talented athletes from across the Southeast.
In
1984, the Barbecue Festival attracted approximately 30,000
people and the barbecue chefs cooked 3,000 pounds of barbecue.
In 1994, the crowd was in excess of 100,000 people and 11,000
pounds of Barbecue were served. In 1995, some of the literal and
figurative distance between east and piedmont was bridged when
the state pork producers association voted to accept the city's
invitation for the annual North Carolina Championship Pork
Cook-Off to be held in Lexington in conjunction with the
Lexington Barbecue Festival. Piedmont residents, used to seeing
pits full of pork shoulders, were able to watch the state's top
whole-hog cooking experts—nearly all of them from the coastal
plain—demonstrate their craft. In 2003 crowds were estimated at
more than 150,000 visitors to Lexington. Certainly everyone is
proud of the growth and success the festival has accomplished
over the years.
The
Festival is held in Uptown Lexington. An eight block stretch of
Main Street is closed to traffic, with banners at either end
announcing the Festival with a logo featuring four dancing pigs.
Over four hundred exhibitors sell everything from handmade
crafts to homemade fudge. Also a Juried competition includes
artists and craftsmen from across the country. This competition,
sponsored by Carolane Propane Gas, Inc., is held throughout two
blocks of Main Street in front of the Davidson county Museum of
Art. Five stages of entertainment showcase local and national
artists. The festival is for people of all ages and includes a
special section of rides and games for children, Piglet Land.
Barbecue is served at three locations through the festival area.These
are amazing places where no fewer than 35 people work beneath
each red and white tent chopping barbecue, fixing slaw, and
serving french fries. Here from Mission Central, the heart of
the Festival, comes the special Festival barbecue, which is a
result of the combined effort of five masters of the trade.
The Barbecue Festival is especially proud that many civic and
non-profit organizations are able to raise funds by providing
parking or selling concessions, raffle tickets, etc., during the
Festival. This is also an excellent opportunity for the
organizations to present information and educate the public. A
special section of information booths is located beside Davidson
County's historic courthouse.
Today,
the festival has become an annual tradition that is held on one
of the last two Saturdays in October. The 28th Annual Barbecue
Festival is set for Saturday, October 22nd, 2011. In addition to
the festival, the City of Lexington and Davidson County
officially declared October as "Barbecue" month. Events are held
throughout the month of October which lead to the grand finale,
the Barbecue Festival. Events that are held during the month of
October include the Tour de Pig - the annual cycling event
benefiting the Mental Health Association in Davidson County.
Also included are a golf tournament, a tennis tournament, the 5K Hawg run, and the Hawg Shoot Air Rifle Tournament. All of these
events draw talented athletes from across the Southeast.
In
1984, the Barbecue Festival attracted approximately 30,000
people and the barbecue chefs cooked 3,000 pounds of barbecue.
In 1994, the crowd was in excess of 100,000 people and 11,000
pounds of Barbecue were served. In 1995, some of the literal and
figurative distance between east and piedmont was bridged when
the state pork producers association voted to accept the city's
invitation for the annual North Carolina Championship Pork
Cook-Off to be held in Lexington in conjunction with the
Lexington Barbecue Festival. Piedmont residents, used to seeing
pits full of pork shoulders, were able to watch the state's top
whole-hog cooking experts—nearly all of them from the coastal
plain—demonstrate their craft. In 2003 crowds were estimated at
more than 150,000 visitors to Lexington. Certainly everyone is
proud of the growth and success the festival has accomplished
over the years.
The
Festival is held in Uptown Lexington. An eight block stretch of
Main Street is closed to traffic, with banners at either end
announcing the Festival with a logo featuring four dancing pigs.
Over four hundred exhibitors sell everything from handmade
crafts to homemade fudge. Also a Juried competition includes
artists and craftsmen from across the country. This competition,
sponsored by Carolane Propane Gas, Inc., is held throughout two
blocks of Main Street in front of the Davidson county Museum of
Art. Five stages of entertainment showcase local and national
artists. The festival is for people of all ages and includes a
special section of rides and games for children, Piglet Land.
Barbecue is served at three locations through the festival area.
These
are amazing places where no fewer than 35 people work beneath
each red and white tent chopping barbecue, fixing slaw, and
serving french fries. Here from Mission Central, the heart of
the Festival, comes the special Festival barbecue, which is a
result of the combined effort of five masters of the trade.