Published by Carl. Last Updated on August 29, 2024.
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Lexington’s third annual NC Tribute to The King returns to take over the “Barbecue Capital” from April 26-28, 2024.
The Davidson County town celebrates all things Elvis Presley during a fun-filled weekend. Five nationally known Elvis tribute artists and more than a dozen up-and-coming performers perform daily, competing for a spot in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, which takes place during Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee, this August.
Our guide shares all the details of this exciting event, including why it’s celebrated and how you can join the fun!
Read More: The NC Tripping Events Calendar
What is NC Tribute to the King?
In 1956, Elvis Presley played a sold-out show in Lexington, North Carolina, just as his career was lifting higher, and the town couldn’t help falling in love with The King.
“He actually performed at our YMCA and stayed in uptown Lexington, so we do have roots with Elvis here,” says tourism director Morgan Brinkle, organizer of NC Tribute to the King.
How to Celebrate NC Tribute to the King in Lexington
Ticket Info: nctributetotheking.com or 336-236-4218
There are a lot of things happening during NC Tribute to the King, starting with dinner on Thursday, April 25. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of each day during this festival:
- Thursday, April 25, 2024: For All-Access Pass holders, early festivities begin Thursday evening, with a Lexington-style barbecue luau dinner. The event is themed after the Elvis movie, “Blue Hawaii,” and allows fans to meet and greet NC Tribute to the King headliners before they transform into Elvises for the weekend.
- Friday, April 26, 2024: The first round of competition starts on Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Edward C. Smith Civic Center in Lexington. On Friday evening, the first of three shows features all five Elvis headliners:
- Dwight Icenhower
- Taylor Rodriguez
- Travis Powell
- Nick Perkins
- Jordan Poole
- Saturday, April 27, 2024: Round two of the Lexington competition starts at 11:00 a.m. at the Civic Center. At 7:00 p.m., the headliners will perform a “Remembering the King” show.
- Sunday, April 28, 2024: The headliners perform “The King’s Gospel Celebration” at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Afterward, the final round of NC’s only sanctioned Elvis tribute competition will decide who will advance to the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis. The adult contest winner will receive $2,000. A 16-and-younger king will also be crowned from the youth competition.
More Things to Do in Lexington
Beyond NC Tribute to the King, there are plenty of things to do in Lexington, just a day trip from Greensboro and also, from Charlotte, among other places.
According to Brinkle, “In between the daytime competitions and evening shows, guests have plenty of time to wander uptown Lexington and visit some of our barbecue restaurants and wineries,”
We’ve created many more travel guides that feature Lexington and nearby places. Here are a few of them.
