Photography by Mason Pelt. Photo releasing under Creative Commons with attribution non-commercial.

The last few years in the Dallas area, there seems to have been a barbecue Renaissance, with national Texas-based awards and recognition going to local favorites such as Pecan Lodge, Lockhart, and big celebrity-laced epicurean events like Meat Fight, and SMOKED, Dallas is really coming into its own. Barbecue contests from a homegrown standpoint haves.

Contests have been around since barbecue was invented and Bedford Blues and BBQ Festival is one of those classic small town events. Even though it has been held in Bedford every year the last six years, it attracts well over 20,000 attendees. That’s not too shabby for a startup barbecue festival held in the burbs. Some are there to prove they have what it takes, a multitude of others are there to enjoy the fruits of that labor of love.

Above are some of the scenes from the festival. For more information on this last weekend’s event, check out http://www.bedfordbluesbbq.com/index.html.