A black light party is a very popular party idea for kids, and they are also a great idea for adults too, of course!
Glow in the dark parties are so much fun to host and or attend…if you don’t know what I’m talking about, keep reading below for some super fun ideas for a black light themed party.
Black light parties are great for birthday parties and other special events. Who doesn’t want to be able to glow in the dark?! This is definitely a favorite birthday party idea for a teen birthday.
Regardless of the type of party you are throwing, there are some things that you can do to make sure your guests have a good time. I’ve put together this guide to help you get the most out of your upcoming event.
Whether it’s a graduation, housewarming or just a gathering of friends to celebrate your birthday, there is something here for everyone.
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Black Light Party
A black light party can be any type of themed party, but it includes the use of a special type of lighting called a black light. Black light parties are becoming more and more popular due to their versatility and ability to create some really cool effects.
For a black light party, the idea is that you get a special type of bulb or tube (depending on what type you have) that puts out a specific wavelength of light. The best ones put out ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the human eye but glows brightly under a black light.
The party comes alive with fun glowing colors thanks to uv light, neon paint and other things that glow in the dark!
Black light parties are definitely a great way to bring out the fun at an event! Party guests get to play around with all sorts of things that would look ordinary under regular lighting.
From glow-in-the-dark stickers and toys to clothing and jewelry, everything looks different under a black light. Black lights are usually ultraviolet lights that cause anything they shine on to give off a bluish tint when exposed for too long.
PaperDotPartySpot has the best black light party decorations that I’ve seen. The photo below shows some of their fantastic garlands. You can hang them from the roof or stick them to the walls or around a table.
If you’re interested in throwing a black light party, check out these ideas on how to make your next event glow.
We’ve done the research for you and found all the best ideas on everything you need. You’ll find great ideas on black lights and other party supplies.
Our goal is to help you quickly and easily theme your black light party so that you can throw an awesome event without breaking the budget!
Black Light Party Ideas
If you have a black light, then you probably already know that certain things will glow under it. You can take advantage of this and serve some glowing foods at your next event.
Glow in the Dark Food
Here are some great ideas for your black light party glow in the dark food.
- Decorate your food platters with lots of glow sticks.
- Make an antipasto platter and drizzle with olive oil. Olive oil glows orange under black light. Egg whites also glow well under black light, so add some hard-boiled eggs or devilled eggs to your platters as well.
- Potato chips and tortilla chips, and cooked pasta a rice can also reflect the black light and stand out. And some salad greens will glow a muted red under black light as well.
- Did you know that tonic water glows in the dark? Make sure this is an option for a fun party drink that you could add to a punch or with alcohol for adults.
- Glow in the dark jello: You can easily make glow in the dark jello by substituting tonic water for regular water. Choose a light colored jello such as lemon or lime for best effect.
- Glow in the dark punch – use glowing jello, glow in the dark gummy bears and glow sticks for a fun drink!
Try some of these ideas out days before your party. Grab a little black light torch. Turn the lights off and see what glows. This will help you plan your glow party food menu.
Glow in the Dark Cake
If you wanted to make a glow in the dark cake, the easiest way to do it is with glow in the dark sprinkles. Simply add these amazing sprinkles to your cake or cupcake frosting and you’re ready to rock! Or add sprinkles to cookies, ice cream, brownies…or the top of any fun dessert.
These below are the best black light glow in the dark sprinkles I’ve seen. You can’t find these in stores, only online.
If you don’t have time to make a glow in the dark cake, I’ve got you covered. You absolutely must check out these amazing glow in the dark cakesicles.
They glow beautifully under black light and will be a massive hit at your party. They are made to order and delivered to your door. What could be better?
Black Light Party Supplies
Everyone loves black light posters and toys, but what else do you need for a black light party? I am going to walk you through everything that you need to make a fun and successful black light party.
The best way to add the dramatic effects of a black light party is to have an actual black light. You can find these pretty affordable right here. Most of them are portable so they can be moved to the party area.
You are sure to find something that works with your budget and needs! Or you could also find some special black light bulbs to screw into existing fittings and sockets.
I’m sure you’ve seen lots of different types of black lights before in school or in bars and clubs. Have fun with it! If you’re struggling to find the best black lights with great reviews check out the review guide right here.
The brightest will be a traditional black light that replaces fluorescent bulbs in your room. If you’re looking for something more portable, then you may want to invest in a smaller black light. These are still effective, but not quite as bright as their larger counterparts.
Black Light Balloons
An easy way to decorate the party area is black light balloons. Just like normal balloons but they glow. You can find them in lots of different shapes and sizes to suit your party room.
Check out the huge range of black light balloons right here.
Black Light Decorations
Read on for some amazing black light decorations that will make your guests say “wow!” when they walk in the door!
Make sure you get really good quality neon stuff for the best effect. Otherwise, it won’t glow as brightly and just look like normal items that weren’t made with black light in mind.
How amazing is this black light confetti! To decorate, put it all over the floor and tables for an amazing effect. It will glow so brightly and look out of this world! Definitely a quick and easy decoration idea for maximum effect.
Now these black light garlands (below) are amazing. They are the perfect way to decorate a party area and they will look absolutely stunning! You could easily hang them on the walls with masking tape. These are a must-have item for your glow in the dark party.
For these garlands, it is recommended that you have between two or three 27 watt black lights for a party area that is the size of an average garage or basement. For bigger areas you could use up to eight black lights – for example, a room the size of a school gym.
There are tons of black light decorations out there. You can find anything from glow in the dark sticks to neon t-shirts, everything glows under an ultraviolet black light.
Check out this awesome glow in the dark shirt. You can have these shirts personalized as well if you like. They look fantastic under black lights and are even nice and bright in broad daylight. Sizes are available for adults and kids.
Another fun way to decorate yourself for a black light party is to add some glow in the dark stickers to your outfit or skin. You can recharge these stickers in the sun or under a black light. Best of all, you can recharge them over and over again.
More Blacklight Party Ideas
Important tip for a black light party: Make sure to turn off all the ‘normal’ lights so you get a bright glowing effect. Any sort of normal lighting will ruin the effect, so make sure you have lots of black lights to help make your party area glow.
Black light streamers are very handy to decorate your party. You could also use them to decorate your outfit. For example, as a head band or wrist band or tie some around your waist like a belt.
Black Light Games
Here is a list of memorable black light activities and black light games that will really spice up your party and get your guests mingling.
- Firstly, you must check out this great black glow in the dark game called Tumble Tower. It’s similar to Jenga. You can play it as a drinking game or not.
- Blacklight Hide and Seek – This classic game is always fun, but imagine playing it in a dark room. It will really change everything up for you and your guests!
- Glow Pong Game – Grab everything you need below for this awesome glow in the dark party game. Each set contains 24 glow in the dark cups and 3 glowing balls. This game will definitely be a hit at your party.
- Black light Scavenger Hunt – Split your guests into teams and give each team a list of clues. Then make sure everyone has at least a black light flashlight to help them find things. This is always fun when you get to give the items out once people have found them!
- Glow in the dark play dough. This will be a hit with the kids at any party. You could make your own using your favorite homemade play dough recipe. Just add a couple of crushed up B12 vitamins to the mix and it will glow. Tip: crush the vitamins using a mortar and pestle.
Otherwise you could buy some glow in the dark play dough or slime right here.
- Glow Sticks – It’s not enough to just have the black lights on, you need things that will glow under them as well! These glow sticks are a great way to get the party started without spending too much money. Just put some out around the house or on serving platters with the food. You’ll need heaps. Buy more than you think you’ll need as your guest will use them during your party.
Glow in the Dark Party Supplies
Below you’ll find some more awesome glow in the dark party supplies. These glow party ideas below don’t necessarily need a black light as they can glow of their own accord. Nevertheless, they will compliment your other decorations at your black light party.
Did you know that there is such a thing as glow in the dark ice cubes? Yes there is and you must check them out as they are fun for kids and adults.
Whilst these sunglasses don’t glow in the dark by themselves, they are illuminated with some awesome LED lights so would still look amazing at a glow party. They would be fun to give out to your guests on arrival. They would also be great as glow in the dark party favors. Adults and kids love these. Find these fun light up sunglasses here.
Glow in the Dark Party Ideas
If you are a guest or a host for a glow in the dark party, no doubt you would be wondering about what to wear.
The answer to this question really depends on your comfort level and the type of party you’re attending. Most people that go to black light parties don’t worry about what they are wearing, but if you want something a little more fashionable, then it may be worth investing in some glow-in-the-dark clothing or accessories.
Even though most things are going to glow under a black light, you’ll still want to take some time and pick out something that will look good. Things like shoes, glasses and jewelry may not be as fun to wear at the party, but they can certainly add a little something special.
If you want to find something in your closet that works well with black lights, then try to avoid things like black clothing or suits. A white t-shirt is an easy option.
Bright white or fluorescent colored clothes and/or accessories are your best bet. Black light clothing markers can really add a massive glow factor to your clothes. Check these markers out here.
There is even glow in the dark nail polish! Your nails will be able to glow all night long, no matter how dark it is!
Last but not least you’ll need some glow in the dark face paint. Check out the amazing paint set here with 8 vibrant neon colors.
In this article, we’ve covered some of the best ways to create a black light party theme that will have your friends begging for more. We hope you enjoyed reading about how to create an awesome black light setting for any occasion with a little help from a few UV bulbs and neon decorations! We hope that you have lots of good ideas for your next party.
If you loved these tips or want some more ideas, be sure to share this article online so everyone can get in on all the fun. Or pin away if Pinterest is your social media site of choice!
Check out our other color party themes for some more great party ideas.
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