Exploring Northwest Arkansas

Dutch Oven Cooking at 2012 Elk Festival

Last weekend marked the 15th annual Elk Festival in Jasper. The festival is a relatively new tradition in Jasper -- celebrating the reintroduction of the elk herds back to the Buffalo River area.

Last year was the first year I'd ever been to the festival -- and we had a great time attending pretty much everything Saturday had to offer at the festival. This year we limited ourselves to just visiting the many vendors and going to the must-attend event of the Elk Festival -- the Dutch Oven Cookoff.

If you're not familiar, Dutch ovens are essentially cast iron pots that people cook a variety of different items in over hot coals.  Each of the competing teams (many dress in traditional costumes) prepares a type of bread, a main course, and a dessert. Judges vote -- and then for $2, you get a bowl, a plastic fork, and common folks like me can go to the various booths for a small sampler of their vittles. You then get to cast your vote for a people's choice award (choosing just one is the hardest part!) .Dutch Oven cooking is gaining popularity around the country and it is definitely a culinary delight.

Among our favorites were a garlic bread, pork roast (my favorite), a cajun jambalaya (Michelle's favorite), ruben meatballs (sourkrout baked in), beef stew, carrot cake and an amazing cheesecake. All of the pics here are of the many tasty sights at the Dutch Oven cookoff. Attend, but just leave a little sample for me.

 

Scenes and highlights from the 2011 Jasper Elk Festival

A couple of weeks ago we attended our first ever Elk Festival in Jasper. In its 14th year, the Elk Festival celebrates the reintroduction of Elk into the Buffalo River Wilderness.

Now, I confess that I'm a big fan of small town festivals, but we had a great time.

 
During the day, we visited all of the 80 (I'm guessing) or so vendors that were there.  The booths covered a variety of different crafts:  jewelry, framing, pottery, flags, jellies and jams, hand-made turkey calls, etc -- along with many of the organizations that are helping maintain the area around the Buffalo River including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Friends of the Buffalo River.  We bought two wooden cutting boards (which I love) and Michelle bought a cute little hair stick thing that helps her keep her long hair off her shoulders when it's hot. We also plan to get a little custom framing done from the framing guy.  There were also a lot of activities for the kids too.

 
The highlight of the event (for me) was the Dutch oven cookoff.  For a couple of dollar donation, we got a bowl and wandered around to all of the booths tasting a sampling of their Dutch oven cooking.  I had no idea so many things could be made in a Dutch oven -- roasted pork and some cajun fare was excellent, but the big surprises for me were the breads, cheese cakes and other baked goods.  Yum!

 
After dinner we settled in for some live music.  I think the band name was Double Barrel but am not certain on that.  Regardless, it was a great show.  As the day became night, the fireworks began and the band played some patriotic songs in the background.

 
After the fireworks, we listened to a couple more songs before taking our extremely tired selves home for the evening.

The Elk Festival is officially on our "must attend" list for years to come -- and if you get a chance, I'd encourage you to do the same.

Jasper Elk Festival Friday 6/24, Saturday 6/25 and Sunday 6/26/2011

This coming weekend is the Elk Festival in Jasper.

I've never been to this event -- but am excited to take it all in this weekend.

There is a pretty extensive schedule of events, which includes a variety of music acts, pie judging competition, fishing Derby, elk permit drawings, elk calling competition, Arts and Crafts show, Dutch oven cookoff and a fireworks display.

I'll be posting some pictures of the event next week -- but am looking forward to a great time in downtown Jasper.