Thursday, May 29, 2025

Leave Your Pet Snakes And Ponies At Home For Mardi Gras 2025

Mardi Gras 2025 parades may look slightly different than in the past. The New Orleans City Council has announced a list of prohibited items for the upcoming Carnival season along parade routes. If you plan on setting up shop, here are some items to leave at home: couches, porta-potties, scaffolding, platforms, open flames, gas generators, tents, and upholstered furniture are not allowed within three blocks of the parade route. Rain or shine, tents, and tarps are also on the “what not to bring” list. Individuals and organizations that place tented toilets on the route may be fined $250 per day.

Six-foot ladders and chairs are still allowed on the parade routes, however, they’ll now have to be placed at least 6 feet away from the curb.

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Additionally, if you own a pet snake, lizard, or pony, they will need to stay at home as well. The new ordinance prohibits horses and reptiles within 200 feet of the parade route, with exceptions for horses participating in the parade and the NOPD’s emotional support animal, Patch. The city has implemented similar rules in the past, and Council Member Joe Giarrusso emphasizes the importance of enforcement. “Without that, we have chaos on the route,” Giarrusso said.

The Krewe of ALLA will now parade through the Crescent City streets on the Wednesday before Fat Tuesday, taking over the Krewe of Nyx’s coveted slot after the controversial group had their permit revoked. ALLA previously paraded on the Friday of the city’s official Carnival season.

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

Additionally, new regulations passed at the beginning of the year regarding who can throw toilet paper during Mardi Gras parades will take effect for Mardi Gras 2025. All krewes must provide NOPD and other officials a list of their lineups including floats, bands and other parade features.

Other rules include the following:

  • No floats can appear in more than two parades without being redecorated.  
  • Horses participating in a parade must have a hip tag showing they are vaccinated.
  • All horses that are not participating in the parade or working as a police horse must stay 200 yards away from the parade route.
  • No parade participants, except those from the Krewe of Tucks, are allowed to throw toilet paper. 
  • There are a few changes to throw guidelines as well. Confetti, silly string, and any throw with a sharp point will be banned from Carnival 2025. 

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Amy Harris
Amy Harris is a writer and photographer who has been traveling for 20 years and flown over 2 million miles to visit over 80 countries on 6 continents. She is a freelance photographer for Invision by Associated Press, AP Images and Rex/Shutterstock. Her work can be seen in various publications and websites including: Rolling Stone, AP Images, National Geographic Books, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Forbes.com, Lonely Planet Travel Guides, JetStar magazine, and Delta Sky Magazine.

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