A glow party turns an ordinary room into something kids remember for years and adults talk about long after the cake is gone. A black light birthday party works for a seventh birthday, a sweet 16 or a 40th, and the setup is simpler than most people expect. This guide covers ideas by age, what to wear, what to serve and which rentals make the room glow.

Plan around the birthday person

The best glow parties fit the person turning a year older. Before you order anything, think about who is coming and how long they will stay.

• Young kids. Keep it short and bright. Plan a craft table, a dance break and a glowing treat, then turn the house lights back up for presents.
• Tweens and teens. A sweet 16 or a 13th birthday is a chance for a real dance floor. Teens love neon face paint, a playlist they chose and a photo spot.
• Adult milestones. A 30th, 40th or 50th can lean into a retro roller-rink or 80s neon theme, with a bar menu to match.

Pick a start time after dark, or a room where you can block the windows. Black light needs a dark room to work, so a basement, a rented hall or a room with heavy curtains works better than a sunny living room.

How black lights work at a party

A black light gives off ultraviolet light that makes white and fluorescent things glow. Our black light rentals use a cannon style black light, and one black light covers up to 60×60 ft. Most clients use 2-4 black lights.

Setup takes less than 1 minute per light. Place the light on a table and aim it at the middle of the room, or anywhere you want to glow. An optional mounting stand is available if you want the light higher. For a full walk-through of how many lights to rent and where to aim them, read our black light party planning guide.

Black light birthday party ideas guests will love

Set a dress code. Ask guests to wear white or neon. The black lights page says almost anything white or fluorescent will glow, including white clothing, linens, neon party paint and highlighter markers. Put the dress code on the invitation, so nobody shows up in navy.

Set up a paint station. Neon party paint and highlighter markers glow under the lights. Kids can decorate white T-shirts or paper masks, and adults can add glowing face paint at the door. Cover the table with a white paper cloth and it will glow too.

Hang white drapes. White drapes add a bright glow to a black light event. Hang them behind the cake table, the gift table or the DJ, and the wall becomes part of the light show. The drapes are part of our backdrop rentals, which come with the frame, tripods and drapes.

Plan glowing snacks. Many white or neon foods look fun under black light. Try white frosted cupcakes, popcorn, marshmallows or bright neon candy. Test a sample under the light before the party, because not every food glows the same way.

Add moving light for the dance floor. Moving spotlights arrive preset to a light show, and their beams move to the beat of the music. They come with 8 color options and 7 dynamic patterns, plus a remote.

Put the name in light. A monogram light can project names, initials, logos or patterns onto a wall or the dance floor. A birthday name or the age works well, and the team emails a preview before shipping.

Pick a package or build your own

If you would rather order one bundle, the packages page lists a Glow Party Package with 1 black light, uplights, a monogram light and a tripod stand. The Glow + Dance Package adds a moving head DJ light.

You can also build your own order. There is no minimum order, so one black light for a small family party is fine. For a larger venue, add another black light or two and some white drapes.

Add a photo spot

Guests will want pictures of their glowing outfits. Our birthday party photo booth ideas cover booth types and how guests get their photos. For a glow party, place the booth near the edge of the room, where there is a little light for the camera, and keep the black lights aimed at the dance floor and the decorations.

Delivery and returns

Your rental package will arrive at least two days before your event, and the rental period is 5 days. Each rental includes setup instructions, and 24/7 support is available. Shipping is free both ways within the continental U.S.

After the party, repack everything in the boxes it came in, attach the prepaid return labels and take them to a physical FedEx location within two days. Never leave them in a FedEx drop box. More answers are on the FAQs page.

A black light birthday party comes together with a dark room, a few lights and a guest list dressed in white. Choose ideas that fit the age, test your snacks and decorations ahead of time, and let the room do the rest.

FAQ

Do the black lights come with a stand?

You do not need one. The setup instructions say to place the light on a table and aim it at the middle of the room. An optional mounting stand is available if you want the light higher.

Is there a package with black lights and dance lights?

Yes. The Glow + Dance Package on the packages page includes 1 black light, 1 moving head DJ light, uplights, a monogram light and a tripod stand.

How do you set up black lights in a room?

Plug in each black light and aim it at the center of the room. Setup takes less than 1 minute per light, most clients use 2-4 black lights, and one black light covers up to 60×60 ft.

People Also Ask

What are good ideas for a glow in the dark birthday?

Ask guests to wear white or neon, set up a paint station with neon party paint and highlighter markers, hang white drapes behind the cake and serve snacks you have tested under the light.

How do you throw a black light party for a kid’s birthday?

Keep it short and plan a few activities, like a craft table, a dance break and a glowing treat. Use a dark room, aim the black lights at the middle of the room and turn the house lights back up for presents.