A New Addition To the Century-Old Bonfire Festival

A unique Christmas tradition held every Christmas Eve for the last hundred years at the levees in St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes will now have a 72-foot alligator and large Santa that will light up the night sky.

The century-old bonfire festival consists of 120 to 130 fires that light the way for Santa Claus or Papa Noel on Christmas Eve. The fires along the levee were also used to light the way for river ships to make their way to Midnight Mass.

Every Christmas Eve thousands flock to the levees as the huge elaborate wooden structures are set ablaze at 7pm.

In the past the structures just consisted of pyramid sculptures but now there are a few who are using their creative talents to create artistic pieces such as the gator and Santa Clause.

Josh Weidert, who is from Sorrento, is part of the Blood, Sweat and Bonfires group who are responsible for the large gator. Weidert, now 33, has been building bonfires for the event since he was a young boy. Through the years his sculpting has become more creative. He has built a giant pelican, snapping turtle and a guitar. His work has been noted on the DIY Network for an upcoming documentary on quirky traditions.

This year he is taking it to the next level. The 72-foot alligator weighs approximately 500 pounds and is made up of dozens of trees from a nearby swamp. The scales are made up of the tree bark and knots to add a textured look. The mouth will be able to open and close by a controlled mechanism.

The creation took about 2 months to build but will turn to ash in one night. This is okay with the group because it is all about the experience of creating the sculpture with friends and family.

“We’re up here making memories,” Weidert said. “If we didn’t burn ’em down, it’d eventually rot away.”

As for the huge 16-foot tall Santa, Corey Zeringue and his group are responsible for the massive sculpture. Zeringue said it took him about 160 trees to make Santa.

“I look forward to it every year,” said Zeringue, 31. “It brings all the family and friends around.”

“We’re lighting the way for Papa Noel,” said Josh Weidert.

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