Town guide · Piedmont
Lexington
The Davidson County seat, which bills itself as the world's barbecue capital and hosts the yearly Lexington Barbecue Festival.
35.8° N · -80.27° W · Davidson County
–Ray Arts IndexGrade · see the report card ↓The town
About Lexington
Europeans had settled Lexington by 1775 and named it for Lexington, Massachusetts, site of the first skirmish of the Revolutionary War. It was incorporated in 1828. The Homestead, built by physician William Rainey Holt, is its oldest surviving house, and the Uptown Lexington Historic District is among many local listings on the National Register. For most of the twentieth century the economy rested on textiles and furniture. Billing itself as the world’s barbecue capital, the city has held the Lexington Barbecue Festival since 1984; it ranks among the biggest street festivals in the state. Local barbecue is pork shoulder cooked slowly over hardwood and served with red slaw. Pigs in the City, a public art project, placed artist-decorated pig sculptures around town. Source: Wikipedia
Events in Lexington
On in town this week
Every art form on one list, each in its own color. Sample events — illustrative dates
All Lexington eventsNothing posted for the next few weeks yet.
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More towns in Piedmont
Ray Arts Foundation · North Carolina
Report Card
Ray Arts Index · 2026
- Town
- Lexington
- County
- Davidson County
- Standing
- Not yet graded
| Subject | Weight | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Local government supportExtra weightArts budget, arts office, grants, parks & rec arts | 18% | – |
| Arts educationExtra weightSchool district arts programs, arts schools and camps | 12% | – |
| Arts placesVenues, museums and galleries | 18% | – |
| ActivityArts events each month | 13.5% | – |
| FestivalsActive arts festivals | 13.5% | – |
| Arts organizationsArts nonprofits and their budgets | 13.5% | – |
| Creative economyArts businesses and working artists | 7% | – |
| HeritageLong-running arts institutions and history groups | 4.5% | – |
Overall
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HonorsNone yet
Marking scaleA 80+ · B 65+ · C 50+ (national typical) · D 35+ · F below 35 · Inc. not yet measured
Teacher’s remarks
The Ray Arts Index gives extra weight to local government support and arts education, because public investment in the arts, and in teaching it, is how creative communities grow.
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