Mylar, confetti cannons banned from New Orleans parade routes

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — City Council members, Mardi Gras krewe captains and Entergy leaders met at Mardi Gras World to remind residents of the new rules regarding Mylar and confetti cannons on parade routes. 

Entergy representatives held a demonstration showing the dangers of Mylar touching an energized power line. Such incidents can disrupt the power grid for hours, causing long delays for parades and even blackouts in the surrounding area.

“One of the hardest things is the length of time it requires for crews to get to the outage itself. So, if there is a packed parade, even to get scouts out there to find exactly, perhaps, where that balloon got tied around a line takes time,” Deanna Rodriguez, the president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans said. 

Last year, in 2024, a confetti cannon landed on a transformer during the Krewe of Thoth, shutting off power for nearly two hours. 

In 2023, Mylar confetti caused an outage during the parade Krewe of Cleopatra, prompting the city council to ban confetti cannons. The following year, council members banned the release of Mylar balloons.

“If you’re found to be in violation of that ordinance, in your court, there will be citations and there will be penalties,” Oliver Thomas said. 

Councilman Eugene Green says the concern goes beyond those along the parade routes.

“Mylar, as a conductor, has a chance to blow out power that affects a lot of people. Sometimes people who aren’t at the parade, who are on particular equipment, that it is lifesaving equipment, for example. Or that of something that they need for breathing purposes or other otherwise,” Green said. 

“The grid belongs to all of us. Infrastructure is important. So, let’s, have a safe and happy Mardi Gras!” Rodriguez said.

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