Christmas Eve bonfires on the levee
On Christmas Eve, families upriver light dozens of log pyramids along the Mississippi levee, a Cajun tradition said to light the way for Papa Noël.
- When
- The bonfires are lit at about 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. A Festival of the Bonfires in Lutcher, usually on the second weekend of December, previews them. (source, checked 2026-10-26)
- Where
- Mississippi River levees in St. James Parish, about 45 miles upriver of New Orleans
- Admission
- Free
Fixed date · 53 days away
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About Levee bonfires
The bonfires are built over weeks on the river levees between Convent and Gramercy, in St. James Parish: tall pyramids of logs, sometimes shaped like cabins or riverboats, lit together on Christmas Eve. Accounts of how old the custom is differ, from the 1700s to the late 1800s, so we do not give a date.
It is not in New Orleans: allow about an hour's drive each way, and expect heavy traffic on River Road on the night. Some tour operators run trips from the city.
Dates, 2026–2035
| Year | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thu 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2026 | Fri–Sun 11–13 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Announced by organiser |
| 2027 | Fri 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2027 | Fri–Sun 10–12 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2028 | Sun 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2028 | Fri–Sun 8–10 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2029 | Mon 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2029 | Fri–Sun 14–16 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2030 | Tue 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2030 | Fri–Sun 13–15 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2031 | Wed 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2031 | Fri–Sun 12–14 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2032 | Fri 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2032 | Fri–Sun 10–12 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2033 | Sat 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2033 | Fri–Sun 9–11 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2034 | Sun 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2034 | Fri–Sun 8–10 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
| 2035 | Mon 24 Dec | Fixed date |
| 2035 | Fri–Sun 14–16 Dec Festival of the Bonfires, Lutcher | Usual pattern, not announced |
Sources
- wbrz.com/news/st-james-parish-prepares-for-christmas-as-bonfires-line… (lit at 7 p.m.; location; checked 2026-10-26)
- festivalofthebonfires.org/ (2026 festival dates; Lutcher; checked 2026-10-26)
Also in traditions
St. Patrick's Day parades · St. Joseph's Day altars and Super Sunday · All Saints' Day (La Toussaint)