78 Ft Alligator Bonfire Will Be Flamed On Xmas Eve

A group of Christmas Eve enthusiasts pushed the bonfire goals far from normal by lighting a giant 78-foot alligator display. Josh Weidert, 33, who with the help of his friends in Louisiana built a 78-foot alligator

Apparently, it is his family tradition that dates back to the early 1700s to celebrate the Christmas Eve bonfire in Garyville for the past 20 years. He is so determined that this tradition will successfully pass-on to his heirs for generations.

“A little folklore we tell the kids is that the bonfire is to guide Papa Noel down the foggy Mississippi River,” Weidert said.

“Whatever rings a bell with everybody” is how design is typically chosen, Weidert said. The crew will get together, swap ideas and start putting pen to paper with mockups.

“We try to use a lot of dead trees because they burn a lot better, Weidert said. “We’ll go out in the woods and harvest our own materials by hand.”