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Cajun Christmas: Bonfire at Destrehan Plantation
4.2
19 Ratings
New Orleans
Join a magical Cajun holiday bonfire, savor a private dinner, and explore historic plantations by candlelight. Reserve your spot now.
Join a magical Cajun holiday bonfire, savor a private dinner, and explore historic plantations by candlelight. Reserve your spot now.
Duration:
4 hours, 45 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Gray Line - Begin your tour by boarding the coach bus at this location. Boarding starts at 3:45 pm.
- Destrehan Plantation - Enjoy a brief motorcoach journey to Destrehan Plantation, where a guided tour of the Big House awaits, along with a self-guided exploration of the grounds, showcasing the new Spirit of Christmas Light Exhibit. Delight in…
- Gray Line - Begin your tour by boarding the coach bus at this location. Boarding starts at 3:45 pm.
- Destrehan Plantation - Enjoy a brief motorcoach journey to Destrehan Plantation, where a guided tour of the Big House awaits, along with a self-guided exploration of the grounds, showcasing the new Spirit of Christmas Light Exhibit. Delight in a Cajun-style dinner featuring local specialties that embody the festive flavors of Christmas. Visit the cash bar to purchase beer and wine before proceeding to the bonfire site.
What's Included
- Spirit of Christmas Light Exhibit
- Cash Bar Onsite with Beer & Wine for Purchase
- Expert Tour Guide Sharing Local Holiday Traditions
- Dinner
- Round-trip Transportation
- Bonfire Viewing at Destrehan Plantation
- Spirit of Christmas Light Exhibit
- Cash Bar Onsite with Beer & Wine for Purchase
- Expert Tour Guide Sharing Local Holiday Traditions
- Dinner
- Round-trip Transportation
- Bonfire Viewing at Destrehan Plantation
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup
- Gratuities
Additional Information
The small communities just upriver from New Orleans celebrate a unique holiday tradition by constructing, lighting, and gathering around large bonfires along the Mississippi River levee to guide “Papa Noel,” Santa Claus, on Christmas Eve. This exclusive Gray Line experience offers an intimate guided tour that unites locals and visitors for a private…
The small communities just upriver from New Orleans celebrate a unique holiday tradition by constructing, lighting, and gathering around large bonfires along the Mississippi River levee to guide “Papa Noel,” Santa Claus, on Christmas Eve. This exclusive Gray Line experience offers an intimate guided tour that unites locals and visitors for a private Cajun dinner and bonfire event at Destrehan Plantation.
Following a brief motorcoach journey, guests will arrive at Destrehan Plantation for a guided tour of the Big House and a self-guided exploration of the grounds, which includes the new Spirit of Christmas Light Exhibit. The evening continues with a delightful Cajun-style dinner featuring local specialties that embody the festive flavors of the season. Guests can visit the cash bar to purchase beer and wine before proceeding to the bonfire site.
The evening’s highlight is a private bonfire viewing, providing guests with a sneak peek of the Christmas Eve bonfires on the Mississippi River levee.
- This tour is not suitable for guests in wheelchairs or with mobility issues. Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
Location
Gray Line New Orleans
Toulouse Street
Departs from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River (at the Steamboat Natchez Dock), just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Please arrive 15 minutes before boarding.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.2
(19 Ratings)
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Judyhn1859ab
Dec 26, 2024
Christmas Eve in NOLA - Fabulous experience and highly recommend it! Wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve!!!!
Harold and Robert were amazing hosts!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sanae_y
Dec 24, 2024
Special holiday by bonfire event - Good to know the history of the plantation. Enjoyed the precious experience of the bonfire. The food was much better than expected!
Review provided by Viator
V8063hecatherineh
Dec 30, 2023
An unparalleled Louisiana tradition experienced in an exceptional way - This is a wonderful way to experience a time honored, uniquely local tradition. The guide, Peggy, is enthusiastic, sharing more than holiday themed stories with the group, including information about the history of New Orleans, Katrina and its aftermath, the Cities of the Dead, and so many other facts. The visit to Destrahan plantation with the guides in period costumes and Revillion lunch adds something special. . .and the food - incredible. If you’re going to see the bonfires on Christmas Eve, or in this case the day before, letting someone else do the driving eliminates the stress that keeps many from experiencing this wonderful event, and Yolanda is an excellent driver. The cookies, eggnog, and Cajun Night Before Christmas are all wonderful touches, as well as the complimentary coffee table books on the plantation, which are given as gifts.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peterop285jh
Dec 28, 2023
The Best New Orleans Holiday tradition - Truly an amazing experience and there is no better way to travel then with Gray Line who handles all the work for you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y9565lsmaggier
Dec 25, 2023
Bonfires and fireworks Christmas - We booked with ease and when the town had to reschedule due to poor weater Gray Line let us know and everything went smoothly.
We boarded a new hotard bus, had a great driver and our guide was Tim. For the drive, he told us all sorts of fun facts about the event and NOLA. We also sang songs and got to meet people around us. The bus was very clean and had a restroom.
We got to the town and the bonfires were about a block away. This was described by the website so we were dressed for it.
The bonfires are on a levee and they are fantastic pyramids. Tge people who built them, loaded them with fireworks.
It was something! I've seen professional fireworks, this was like 10 times the amount! It was crazy! I'm so glad we were able to see this!
The ride home, everyone was a little tired but perked up with offers of eggnog, water and cookies.
We had the option of going back to our hotel area or back to the pick up area. That was a really nice touch.
I was a little worried about this feeling like a generic experience but Gray Line really made it homey and fun. I felt like the staff from the first call about tte date change to waiting to board the bus and our friendly and talented driver and our wealth of knowledge and personality filled guide was just a great experience. Another family said it was their 4th time doing this event. I can see why!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
973maryanned
Dec 25, 2023
Unique Experience - So much fun! A very unique experience. Our tour guide told us a lot about the history of Louisiana and the Christmas Eve bonfires on the way to the bonfires. This made the 1 1/2 hour bus ride go by faster. He played Christmas carols on the way back. Danish cookies, bottled water and egg nog was provided. Totally recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brenda
Dec 25, 2023
Great event and would highly recommend. - This was such a fun experience to kick off our Christmas in New Orleans. With the threat of bad weather, the event was changed from Sunday to Saturday and Graylines was able to get everything changed for all of us. We arrived early and took our place in line. At exactly 2pm we loaded the buses and left shortly after. Our bus driver, Paul, was very informative and entertaining throughout the evening. We arrived at the Destrehan plantation and did the house tour then ate dinner outside. We were supposed to eat indoors but there was a wedding, so they put us outside. It was a beautiful afternoon, so no issues. The food was good and portions were big. We then reboarded the buses and drove to Gramercy for the bonfires.
Parking and walking to the levee was easy. Paul did a great job giving instructions for the event. The bonfires and fireworks were great and family friendly. We once again boarded the buses and Paul dropped us off by the street car line so it was closer than going all the way back to Toulouse street.
Would highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nolafan123
Dec 26, 2022
A Great Christmas Eve Experience! - My wife and I had a great time on the Christmas Eve Bonfire Express tour. The traditional bonfires and fireworks were spectacular and exceeded our expectations. Our guide Donald was full of N'awlins and Bonfire information and entertaining to boot. A great experience we recommend to all. Thanks so much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pmi0529
Dec 26, 2023
Sit Back Relax and Enjoy This Unique Tradition - The Bonfires are one of the most unique holiday experiences anywhere in the US. Yes, it is a bus, but it is truly the best way to enjoy the experience. Traffic is everywhere, yet the bus is able to navigate this so you don't just sit in long lines of traffic. They entertain and guide you along the way with history and details about the tradition and the culture of New Orleans. I would definitely recommend if you want to sit back and relax and enjoy this unique tradition!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christinan368
Dec 26, 2022
Bad timing - Arrived 80 min. before the fires were lit and dropped off too far to see any interesting structures. Had to leave after only 20 min. of fires. Didn't get to see any of the interesting designs touted. It was 28 degrees outside.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
