Entry No. 31 — the New Orleans file — filed under: witchy

Bayou St. John / Magnolia Bridge (Cabrini Bridge)

This slow, brackish bayou was Marie Laveau's reputed ritual ground in the 1800s, and the iron Magnolia Bridge over it remains the gathering point for voodoo practice today. Every June 23, St. John's Eve, priestess Sallie Ann Glassman leads a public head-washing ceremony here, with participants in all white invoking Laveau's spirit at sunset over drumming and dance. The rest of the year it is simply a calm spot for kayaking, fishing, and watching herons along the oldest waterway in the city.

The move: Walk out onto the Magnolia Bridge at dusk and watch the bayou turn copper, or come on St. John's Eve to witness the white-clad head-washing ritual.

📍 Before you go The St. John's Eve ceremony is one night only (June 23); the bayou and bridge themselves are open year-round and free.

• 📍 Faubourg St. John / Mid-City
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Magnolia (Cabrini) Bridge, Moss St near Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Hours: Added 2026-06-22 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-22