Is this like an LSU bonfire?????
From the Louisiana Festivals website--
Bonfires on the Levee
Lutcher, LA
December 24, 2006
There are probably close to ten different events in Louisiana that have a bonfire as their focal point during the holiday season, but nothing comes close to the Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee. On Christmas Eve, thousands of spectators converge along a stretch of River Road between Lutcher, LA and Gramercy, LA to enjoy the spectacle of dozens of burning bonfires set against the backdrop of the Mississippi River.
Thanksgiving week is the unofficial start of the bonfire building season for families that live in the river parishes of St. James and St. John the Baptist. It has evolved into quite a family tradition of planning and hard work - resulting in elaborate wooden creations. Eventually, more than a 100 carefully assembled towers of wood line the top of the levee at about one block intervals, waiting in anticipation of a mass lighting on Christmas Eve. Although there's no concrete theory about the origins of this tradition, the favorite one bandied about is that the fires help show Santa the way to homes in this area.
Many people view the fires from their cars as they creep along in the traffic on River Road, but to truly enjoy this event, you should walk along the top of the levee from one fire to the next. Spectators meander all over the levee, standing in front of one bonfire and then moving on to the next. Often, friends and family of a particular bonfire builder have set up chairs or sofas around the bonfire. As you pass by, there might be offers of gumbo being cooked up on the spot over a butane flame.
This is a grass roots event. There isn't an official sponsor or a particular starting point or ending point. People enjoy the spectacle, the camaraderie and the spontaneous conversations that occur. While the bonfires are burning, teenagers and kids entertain themselves and others by setting off firecrackers and whirling noisemakers.
The midway point of the string of bonfires is located between the towns of Lutcher and Gramercy, about an hour west of New Orleans. The flames start with a loud whoosh at 7:00 p.m. sharp, and the bonfires tend to burn for at least a couple of hours. This holiday event is not a religious one, but it is high-spirited and a beautiful sight to see against the night sky. Don't forget your hot toddies.