Abilene residents come together at the Abilene State Park on the second Saturday of each month to enjoy Dutch oven cooking in the community. The group goes by the name "Big Country Dutch Oven Group".
With the help of the “Lone Star Dutch Society of Texas”, Huey Bryan started the monthly event in January. Around 40 to 50 participants gather at 9 a.m. to start preparing their food. At 12:30, participants share their creations.
Bryan says that all the cooks really need are coals, something to cook on, and a Dutch oven, “It’s just mainly, the food of course, the fun, and the fellowship of people cooking together and just having a good time.”
Bryan says anything you can cook in a kitchen, you can cook in a Dutch oven. Members especially like to cook any dish that is easy to share, such as casseroles or side dishes.
The name “Cooking on the Dancefloor” was coined by one of the state park’s employees, because members gather on the park’s official dance floor to cook.
Their next gathering is on May 4th.