WINSTON-SALEM -- The smell of barbecue is luring rib fans to Winston-Salem's downtown. The eighth annual Texas Pete Twin City Ribfest kicked off Thursday.

Vendors from across the country are cooking up ribs, vying for titles of best sauce, best ribs, people's choice and grand champions. Organizers say they're happy to see the festival get back to its roots in the city's downtown after three years at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds.

"We were kinda lost in all the space of the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds and I think we tried to fill that space and we were starting to become a carnival that just happened to have barbecue," said participant Allen McDavid.

Ribfest continues through Sunday. Tickets cost $7.