There are so many beautiful places around New Orleans that celebrate the Christmas season in lovely ways. But perhaps no town is more spectacular than Lutcher, Louisiana, where the Christmas bonfires each year light the way for Papa Noel and bring in the holiday season with a real flare!
While there are different accounts of how the tradition of Christmas bonfires began in Louisiana. But all of the stories involve the need to “light the way” for Papa Noel.
Living in Southern Louisiana, there’s no doubt you’ve already seen the unique perspective we have on who Santa is—for example, instead of reindeer, some say he has a cadre of alligators taking him on a boat ☺.
The annual Lutcher Festival of the Bonfires includes a lot of other activities besides just bonfires, including a gingerbread house contest and pageant.
These activities ensure that the festival involves the entire community and gives everyone something to look forward to the night of the big event.
Regardless of your Santa story, when the festival of the bonfires kicks off in Lutcher, you can bet that the excitement will be running high.
Different groups of people would have already been spending weeks building up the pyres that are eventually lit up for the bonfire.
As the sun begins to set, all the participants start to get ready for the fire to get going.
You can just feel the excitement in the air—and you can bet there is a lot of goodwill and holiday cheer in the air as you explore the area.
Each year I look forward to the beauty of the pyres against the sky, getting ready for the fires to get going.
It’s a beautiful sight and once you see it for the first time it’s easy to see why this has become such a popular event year after year.
Finally as the sun goes down the fires get started!! That’s when the celebration really begins, alongside food vendors, live music, and awesome community vibes.
If you haven’t already attended one of these incredible events, you are really in for a treat that is unlike any other!
Wow! Doesn't that celebration look amazing? I think it is a truly special way to celebrate everything that makes Louisiana so special during the holiday season. If you haven't gone to explore this amazing attraction--you are in for a really special treat!
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