46 Festive Glow Party Ideas

A glow-in-the-dark party is the perfect party idea for birthdays, Halloween parties, or even just as an excuse to get together and have fun! You might need a party checklist to make everything go smoothly. Get your guests in the mood to party with the right black light party invitations, favors, and decorations. For fun and easy glow-in-the-dark ideas, this list of ideas and tips has you covered. You can check out our guide to manage your spending with our budget guide as well!

Glow Party Ideas: Invitations

1. Glow-In-The-Dark Invitations

Set up your glow-in-the-dark party theme with glow-in-the-dark party invitations. Simply create your invitations out of black cardstock and use glow-in-the-dark markers or paints to decorate them and write your party information.

2. Glow Stick Invites

Looking for a more unique invitation? Purchase several glow sticks, one for each of your guests, and attach a tag that has all of your party information on it. This invitation doubles as a party accessory!

One of the biggest trends nowadays is DIY invitations, well DIY anything really. Here are just a few ideas that could get you started on coming up with your own ideas to make your invitations for your party.

3. Bright Invitations

This invitation doesn’t glow like the DIY invitations but it is very colorful and fun and filled with neon colors to go with the theme of the party. It’s a very simple design compared to others but if you just want an invitation to reflect the colorfulness of a glow party this colorful invitation hits its mark.

4. Printable & Classic Invites

This printable invitation has a more classic vibrant glow look to it. They use a black background and are about the size of a postcard. It has extra lines after all the basic info that you might need to put on the invitation, to put extra information, or just use it as decoration. The extra lines could be used for something as simple as just telling people what they should wear to the party, or what they should bring.

5. Lightbulb Invites

Get the word out about your glow party with this creative invitation. Instead of using lots of bright colors or making it look like it is glowing use this design from Canva that is easily customizable. This design uses a lightbulb effect to make the words instead. This helps grab attention in a different way than the other invitations do.

6. Glowing Brush Strokes Invitations

Another way to invite your friends to get glowing is by sending this customizable invite to everyone. It uses neon colors that look like they have been brushed on to invite people to the party. It works especially well if you also plan on having glowing paint at your party.

7. Facebook Event

Facebook makes it very easy for people to send invites to others without having to spend a bunch of money on fancy invites. Plus, it becomes very easy to see who can, possibly, and cannot come to the party. This vibrant Facebook event banner can be an eye-catching photo for someone to see when they open up the event page to get more details and respond if they can even go.

8. Get Glowing

These Amazon invitations are in a classic neon glow paint design, that includes printed on paint splatters to make it look like neon paint, neon lettering that looks like a light-up neon sign, and even what looks like glow in the dark bracelets. It leaves plenty of blanks so that when you order them you just have to write in your own information and then mail or hand them out. Maybe use some neon or bright colored pens though, to keep with the bright colors of the invitations.

9. Invitation Card

These cards make for cute invitations as they are foldover invitations. They are actually the same design as a printable version that you can find online, but with the difference being that they are foldover and printed professionally and on better paper than what you can do yourself. This is a nice option in case you want the same design, but you were hoping to find the ones that were printed for you. Plus, they are the perfect feel for a glow party invitation.

10. Rainbow Stars Space

You can personalize this invitation, download it, and then print it as well. When you buy this Etsy invitation the designer will send you an invitation to edit. What’s nice about this Etsy design, is you can continually edit and change it, and that once you buy it, you don’t have to buy the design again.

This design looks like neon stars in space and they alternate between just bright colors on the invitation and neon glow to the letters and the design. You can also choose to print them yourself or get the designer of them to print them for you in two different options. This is especially nice if you want your invitations printed on cardstock, or to have a shinier look to them then just printing it in a regular printer.

11. VIP Pass

This invitation is unlike all the rest. Instead of being one you can just print off and mail out like every other invitation you see. It is actually a VIP pass, that is an invite. It looks like a VIP pass but just has all the details of the party, and even has the ability to have a photo of the guest of honor printed on it. It’s printed on plastic, and it comes with a black lanyard, so your guests can walk into the party feeling like they are a million bucks.

Glow Party Ideas: Venues

12. Laser Tag Venue

Host the party at a laser tag location, that way you don’t have to deal with decorations or activities. You can also check out other party themes, too.

13. Dance Club Room

Rent out a room at a club to use as a venue. This will give you access to so many more lights and space for decorating. Not to mention, the room will already have a dark element to it.

Glow Party Ideas: Decorations

14. Wall Decorations

Use white streamers, balloons, and other party decorations to decorate your space. The white will glow under the black lights and make for a much more elegant setting for impressing others!

15. Glowing Balloons

A great way to add a cool vibe to your themed party is to light a glow stick inside your balloon before you blow them up so that they will glow in the dark! It’s simple and something your guests will enjoy. You can use the glowing balloons to form walkways through the party.

16. Black Lights

Buy or rent black lights to set your glow-in-the-dark party over the top. This will open up a lot of options for party planning and decorations. For your party, temporarily replace all of the bulbs in your party area with black light bulbs. If this is not enough, rent or purchase other black lights to set up in your space.

17. Neon Disco Ball

Purchase a multicolor disco ball and strobe lights to hang from the ceiling. This will be perfect additional lighting to the darkroom and will compliment all of the other glow-in-the-dark decorations.

18. Fog Machine

Trying to add an exciting spooky twist to your party? Consider purchasing a fog machine! Under the black lights, the fog will take on an eerie glow and set the perfect mood.

19. Bubble Machine

A bubble machine is another accessory that can enhance the glow-in-the-dark party experience. Fill the bubble machine with fluorescent bubble solution so that the bubbles it creates will glow in the dark.

20. Neon Streamers

Buy vibrant colored streamers such as yellows, pinks, and greens to hang throughout the party. These will practically glow-in-the-dark on their own and will accent the rest of the glowing colors at the party. Or if you’re up to the challenge, buy packs of glow-in-the-dark bracelets and link them together to make glowing streamers throughout the party. Guests will love this idea!

21. Glow Sticks

Use supplies such as glow stick to decorate the party. Hang them from the ceiling, around doorways or be used to create pathways in the dark.

22. Starry Skies

Make a starry night ceiling by covering it with glow-in-the-dark stars.

23. Black Room

You will not be able to see the black lights if you are in a room with too much external light. This is why it is essential that you cover all of the windows with thick black window film to ensure that no extra light shines in.

24. Table Decorations

Cover your tables with tablecloths that glow in the dark and use glow-in-the-dark plates, cups, and utensils. You can even use glow-in-the-dark ice cubes for your beverages to make them shine. In addition, you can use fiber optic lights to create centerpieces and surround them with white confetti that will glow under the black lights.

25. Glow Sticker Tableware

Go crazy with glow-in-the-dark stickers on the plates, cups, and tablecloths, so everyone is able to see their table setting in the dark. Make sure to use dark-colored tableware, like black, purple, or green, to make sure the stickers stand out.

26. Bright Glow Straws

To add a special touch to the drinks, buy glow-in-the-dark straws. The straws will look as though they are floating in the air when the lights are off. Kids will love it!

Glow Party Ideas: Games and Activities

27. Dance Party in the Dark

Create a space with black lights, music, and enough space to dance. Decorate it with glow-in-the-dark decorations and have all the guests covered in glow jewelry for a fun dance game in the dark.

28. Glow Scavenger Hunt

Depending on what you have available, you can split kids into teams and send them on a search for neon letters that will spell out clues leading to the next hidden message. If you want to challenge them in this activity, make the messages in glow letters that can only be found with a UV flashlight and give one to each group.

29. Flashlight Tag

Bring back a classic and set up a game of flashlight tag. Designate one person to be it and they will run around with a flashlight. Anyone that gets caught in the beam of the flashlight is out.

30. Glow Face Paint and Manicures

A great activity for any glow-in-the-dark party is to host a face painting competition by equipping all your guests with glow-in-the-dark paint, and awarding a prize to the best artist! You could even give everyone manicures with glow-in-the-dark nail polish.

31. Glowing Graffiti Wall

This can be done two ways. One way would be to cover a wall with white paper and let everyone write on it with neon highlighters. Another way would be to cover it with black construction paper and leave messages in glow-in-the-dark paint so it can be read with the lights off.

32. Glow-In-The-Dark T-Shirts

Set up a T-shirt decorating the table with plenty of plain white T-shirts (which will already glow under the black light) and fluorescent or glow-in-the-dark fabric paints. The guests can design their own T-shirts or you can have each guest sign each other’s T-shirts as a nice reminder of the party.

33. Volleyball

Sports turning into blacklight party activities are always a crowd winner! Turn this classic game into the perfect glow-in-the-dark activity with glow sticks. All you need to do is attach glow sticks to the perimeter of the volleyball net and use clear packing tape to attach glow sticks to the volleyball.

34. Glow-In-The-Dark Jewelry

Set up a jewelry-making station with plenty of glow-in-the-dark beads and string. Your guests will love making their own glowing jewelry to wear at your party and to enjoy after the party is over.

35. Frisbee

It is easy to find glow-in-the-dark Frisbees, but that is not all that is needed to make this game possible in the dark. Make sure each player is wearing plenty of glow sticks so that everyone is visible and no one gets injured.

Glow Party Ideas: Menu

36. Glowing Drinks

Add tonic water to any drink to make them light up under the black lights.

37. Neon Drinks

Choose beverages with glowing neon colors, like lemon-lime soda and green sports drinks. These already have the bright glow stick gleam to them.

38. Glowing Jello

Make a normal jello mold, but add tonic water to the mix to make it glow under the black lights. This will baffle your guests and make a fun treat.

39. Cotton Candy on a Glow Stick

Wrap colorful cotton candy around a glow stick for the perfect theme-fitting dessert.

40. Sour Gummy Worms

Sour gummy worms always come in bright, neon colors. Place them in bowls around the room for guests to snack on during the party. These would also be a good addition to a party favor bag.

41. Guacamole

Serve with colorful chips to brighten up the room. Guacamole is the perfect neon green color for a glow-in-the-dark party.

42. Neon Cake

Decorate cupcakes or cakes with neon frosting for an easy way to give off a glowing look. You can also use colorful sprinkles to decorate.

Glow Party Ideas: Party Favors

43. Glow T-shirts

This is a must giveaway at glow parties! Have guests make DIY t-shirts with glow-in-the-dark paint and they can take it home and remember all the fun they had every time they turn out the lights.

44. Glow-In-The-Dark Glasses

Fun glasses make for great prizes at a blacklight party. Make them even more fun by purchasing glasses that glow-in-the-dark.

45. Glow-In-The-Dark Balls

If you’re trying to make sure your guests have the most fun, provide soccer balls, bouncy balls, ping pong balls, etc. to spice things up. Whatever you choose, your guests will surely have a ball!

46. Glow-In-The-Dark Bracelets

Give your guests a fun accessory that will remind them of all of the fun they had at your party! Glow-in-the-dark bracelets can be found in a variety of designs ranging from simple glow stick bracelets, rubber bracelets with a personalized saying on them, or even paracord bracelets made of glow-in-the-dark string.

47. Glow Stick Accessory

At any blacklight party, everyone knows that glow sticks are a classic party favor. Give your guests a pack of glow sticks that they can combine together to make any glow-in-the-dark accessory they choose.

48. Glow-In-The-Dark Necklaces

Glow-in-the-dark necklaces are another great accessory that your guests will absolutely love. You provide necklaces ranging from glow-in-the-dark beads to necklaces with charms on them.

49. Bubbles

Looking for a simple party favor that is always a hit? Try providing your guests with glow-in-the-dark bubble favors! They’re fun and something for everyone of all ages to enjoy.

50. Glow-In-The-Dark Yo-Yos

Growing up, everyone always loved playing with yo-yos. Glow-in-the-dark yo-yos are perfect for your next event and will allow your guests to bring home a sentimental gift that they will love

51. Glow Sticks

Another easy party favor that creates multiple options for the guests. They can make their own jewelry with glow sticks or just play with them while lighting up the room.

52. Glowing Goo

Looking for DIY neon crafts? This is a great, but messy option! Either find a recipe to make it or buy it in the toy section at pretty much any store. This glow-in-the-dark goo will be a fun craft for kids to play with and mold.

53. Tattoos

Find glow-in-the-dark tattoos that guests can wear this giveaway around at the party or take them home as part of a goodie bag.

54. Glow-in-the-Dark Body Paint

Make these parties creative! This addition to the gift bag glow-in-the-dark body paint will let people get creative and actually become a part of the decorations.

55. Highlighters

These favors are an easy way to incorporate the theme of your party and are a gift bag stuffer that might get the most use. Make sure to include many different neon-colored highlighters such as blue, pink, green alongside the traditional yellow!

Conclusion

Why limit yourself to a dull, boring party when you can brighten it up using these few simple event ideas? Almost anything that you have around your house can be made to glow-in-the-dark. You have the ability to transform a whole room with some easy improvements to make your party lit, (literally). This can be the perfect opportunity to show your creativity and set the scene from the moment the guests walk through the door!

Written by Jessica McNellis, Jessica Bundy and Aditi Parikh; Contributor: Chris Legere

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