Exclusive | Meet New Year’s Eve’s ‘confetti king’ of NYC’s Times Square

Treb Heining, known as the “confetti king,” has been overseeing the iconic New Year’s Eve confetti blizzard in Times Square for over 30 years. As the clock strikes midnight and the crowd counts down to the new year, Heining gives the command to release the confetti, creating a vibrant and colorful snow globe effect in the heart of New York City.

Heining, now 72 years old, considers it an honor to be in charge of such a monumental event each year. Despite his many years of experience, he still gets emotional every time the confetti falls, feeling grateful to be a part of something so incredible.

His journey to becoming the confetti king started at a young age when he worked at Disneyland selling balloons. Over the years, he has orchestrated balloon displays for major events like the Super Bowl, the Olympics, and political conventions. But it is his annual role in Times Square that holds a special place in his heart.

Each year, Heining and his team release over 3,000 pounds of confetti over Times Square, with some pieces containing heartfelt messages from people around the world. One message that particularly touched him was a wish for a mother’s cancer to go away, showing the depth of emotion and hope that the confetti carries.

Heining has also formed connections with volunteers from all over the globe who help with the confetti drop. These interactions have left a lasting impact on him, including a family from Germany who joined the crew and later expressed that it was the best New Year’s Eve they had ever experienced.

As he continues to oversee the confetti blizzard year after year, Heining remains grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a magical moment that brings joy and hope to people around the world. His dedication to spreading happiness through confetti has made him a beloved figure in Times Square and beyond.