It’s that time of year where we celebrate those special ladies in our lives. Yes, Mother’s Day is this weekend folks. THIS WEEKEND. And if you haven’t had a chance to get hold of a card or a bunch of flowers yet, then have no fear. We’ve put together this simple Mother’s Day glow stick craft to help you show her how much you care.
Mum, you make my heart glow
All you need to do is to get hold of a template and print it out. You could design your own by hand, on the computer or you’re welcome to download our free printable template.
Dig out a hole punch and make a hole in the top and the bottom. Then pop a glow stick through the holes. Don’t forget to write your message on the back. And there it is! A simple, original Mother’s Day glow stick craft that anyone can make.
We recommend presenting it to her along side a big pile of cake, a steaming cup-of-tea or even a full English breakfast-in-bed.
Share your Mother’s Day glow stick craft makes with us
We’d love to see any Mother’s Day glow stick crafts that you make. Send us a photo, or use #glowtopia and we’ll share it on Social Media with a shout-out to the special lady in your life.
P.S. Did we mention that we can arrange same-day dispatch if you order some glow sticks before 2pm? No order is too big or too small.
Fundraising for schools and PTAs can be tricky, especially when existing funds to plough into events or initiatives are so tight. That’s where glow sticks come in… Glow stick fundraising for schools and PTAs is particularly effective for a number of reasons. They’re cheap to buy, have high markup value and kids absolutely love them.
Some glow stick fundraising ideas for schools and PTAs include:
A glow in the dark sports event and obstacle course, where those taking part can purchase extra glow accessories to wear during the event
Easy, time-effective fundraising
As with any charity, time is a valuable commodity for PTAs. More often than not, members of the PTA may not have time to make cakes for a bake sale, or make any items to sell on, so the perfect products for selling are the most convenient. And it doesn’t get any more convenient than a glow stick. Simply order the products you need online and you’re all set to go – order before 2pm and we’ll dispatch your glow sticks the same day.
Buy wholesale glow sticks for higher fundraising profits
Our pricing structures allow you to buy glow sticks in bulk at wholesale prices. This leaves plenty of room for a high mark-up resale, providing great profit for school fundraising. Buy glow sticks for as little as 22p each and mark-up value can easily be as high as 500% or more.
Appeal to the fad side of children with glow stick fundraising
Children love a harmless fad, and glow sticks are an ideal way to appeal to that side of them. Once one child has seen their friend wearing one and waving one around, they will want one as well, and so, the fad begins… Parents can join in to if they want to with glow accessories, and those selling on the stall will stand out a mile adorned in glow tiaras and earrings. Who needs signage when you’ve got glow sticks?!
Glow sticks are a cost effective way for your PTA to fundraise
Glow stick fundraising for schools and PTAs is the cheapest and most effective way to raise money at school events. Whether you boogie on down at a glow in the dark disco, or you cheer on the kids in a glow in the dark obstacle course, glow sticks bought at wholesale prices, will be a sure hit with customers, and with your charity bank balance.
We’ve provided glow sticks at wholesale prices for many school events, so if you’d like to find out more about how we can best support your PTA fundraiser, get in touch. Or go ahead and order your glow sticks online. Order before 2pm and we’ll arrange same-day dispatch.
The magic of luminescence never grows old. Switching the lights off and watching multi-coloured objects glowing in the dark is a total win for most children! If you can’t get past ‘musical bumps’ or ‘pass the parcel’ and need some fresh ideas, then look no further. Below are some innovative suggestions for hosting your very own glow in the dark party.
Glow stick Invitations
Start as you mean to go on and set the tone with some neon invitations! Using black card, use UV paint to include the details of your glow in the dark party and include a dress-code – neon or white work best. Charge the paint under normal light, turn the lights off and hey presto! So much excitement and suspense before the party has even started!
Alternatively, this great Valentine’s idea by Delia Creates could easily be adapted into a party invite.
Glow in the dark party decorations
The possibilities are endless when it comes to decorating the space for your glow in the dark party. Blacken out the windows if it’s not dark outside already and replace any normal bulbs with black bulbs- even your teeth will be illuminated in this light!
Try these flashing LED balloonsto make clusters of colour appear all around your party space. Each balloon features a multi-coloured LED that lasts 15 hours. You could even hand one out to each of your guests at the end of the party to take the magic back home.
Use a selection of those UV glow paint sticks again with black card to make a birthday banner for your entrance. Alternatively use these UV paintsespecially designed to use on fabric. When the lights are turned off, the painted letters will glow and appear to be suspended mid-air.
For the wow-factor, try crafting this simple but high-impact glow stick chandelierto utilise ceiling space. It will add a little more lighting if you’re feeling it’s too dark and …well… it just looks pretty impressive. Or link a few glow stick bracelets to make a glow stick party chain to hang on the walls.
Set up the snack or party food table with glow sticks indicating each place setting like here. Alternatively, just stick a handful of multicoloured glow sticks in a couple of glass jam jars for an immediate flash of light. The children will be mesmerised while eating their sausage rolls and chocolate fingers!
Don’t forget to set up a drinks table- partying is hot work! For added neon fun, line up a few rows of cups and put a glow in the dark strawin each one.
Get creative!
Take advantage of some amazing products and get the kids glowing themselves. Your glow in the dark party will really kick off once everyone is looking the part.
Set up a station for face-painting, nail-painting and hair-chalking. Choose a range of colours from a selection of glow paint sticks, glow nail varnishand these professional quality UV hair chalksand let your creative juices flow!
Word to the wise- the glow paints and cosmetics don’t need a UV light to glow (although they will glow under UV light), but are ‘charged’ with natural light and then glow in the dark. The UV paints and cosmetics will appear as a bright colour in daylights and will glow brightly under a UV light or ‘blacklight’.
Glow in the dark party games
Pretty much everything gets better when it’s glow in the dark! For a really glow-tacular party setting, why not try some classic games with a neon twist?
Take indoor bowling. Normally a firm favourite amongst kids, but make it glow in the dark and they won’t want to do it any other way! Our kids glow sticks are waterproof, so get hold of 10 water bottles, tip some water out (depending on how heavy you want them), add the activated glow sticks to make the bottles glow and roll a football to see if you can get a strike!
Hoopla is another classic game. The twist? Aim and throw with a selection of multi-coloured glow sticks! The winner gets to wear them. Each necklace is made up of three different colours and will glow for up to 12 hours. What’s not to love? Here’s our glow stick hoopla party pack to get you started.
When they’ve danced ’til they’ve dropped, get your guests to try mini noughts and crosses- perfect for tired feet. Set up little grids with kids glow sticks and then start placing your ‘naughts and ‘crosses’ to win three in a row.
https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/185210603401176254/
Why not try out some fabric paint and get designing and decorating some pre-bought plain white T-shirts. Don’t forget you need to fix the design with a hot iron on the reverse once it has dried. The pop of colour on a white T-shirt will look really striking under the black light!
For the more creative among your guests, you could choose to get crafty with the UV paints and design some murals, greetings cards, or canvasses.
Glow Stick Party bags
You can’t have a glow in the dark party without a glow in the dark party-bag! Start off with a few staple glow sticks, necklaces or bracelets and a few extra connectors so they can experiment. Try some of these glow stick party bag filler ideas.
For a twist, try setting up a lucky dip for your guests on their way out. As they plunge their hands into a deep filled box, they could take home the ultimate party bag gift. Anything from LED sound reactive glasses, glow bunny ears, a stylish glow stick cap, a glow tiara, an LED sword or light sabre(for any Star Wars fans) or a glow ballthat you just have to bounce hard on the floor to activate. Your guests will leave on a real high with a great gift they can take home. The magic doesn’t have to end there!
(Don’t forget to hand out any balloons, unless you want a glowing living room when the party’s over.)
A glow in the dark party is guaranteed to be a hit with children of all ages! And there are a myriad of ways to get creative and make sure this is a party to remember. It’s time to get glo-ing!
Kids party bag fillers don’t need to break the bank. Shove a few glow sticks in a bag and you’ll have some happy customers. In fact, you could make the whole party glow-in-the-dark themed – it’s unique, easy to pull off and popular with kids and teens of all ages. Combine it with a space theme, fairy theme or spooky theme for extra brownie points. Here are some great budget party bag fillers for a glow-in-the-dark themed party.
Obviously, as retailers of glow sticks, this was always going to be our first suggestion! But placing bias aside for a second, you can’t go wrong with a few glow sticks. They cost pennies, and I don’t know a child (or adult) that can resist snapping a glow stick and waving it around in the air. Even better, get hold of some glow stick connectors and your guests can enjoy making their own glow bracelets and glow necklaces
You might not want the mess of cutting the main birthday cake and wrapping individual pieces in tissue paper. In which case, cupcakes in individual boxes or fairy cakes wrapped in foil are perfect. You can make glow in the dark cupcakes to match the party theme. All you need to do is put tonic water in the mix – it contains quinine, which glows under a blacklight.
Glow In The Dark Hats and Glasses
Every child loves dressing up, especially if their costume glows in the dark. These glow stick glasses and glow stick hats are always crowd pleasers. Or if you have any princess fairies amongst your guests, they’ll be over the moon with this glow stick tiara.
A Secret Ink ‘Thanks For Coming’ Letter
Although not glow in the dark, a secret writing letter fits nicely into the party theme because it is a novelty. Plus, you can make them for next to nothing. Simply mix some lemon juice with a bit of water then write your message with a cotton bud and wait for it to dry. You can label the letter ‘get mum or dad to iron me to read me’ so their parents know to iron the letter for the child to reveal the writing.
Glowing Spooky Eyes
Glowing spooky eyes are certainly budget party bag fillers because they cost so little. And yet, they bring so much fun to the child that receives them because they can be hidden in all sorts of places to creep-out passers-by. They’re especially good if you’re throwing a Halloween party.
Glow In The Dark Stickers
Most kids are pretty excited about the concept of stickers, let alone stickers that glow-in-the-dark. Save money by getting a large packet like this one and sticking an individual sheet in each party bag.
Glowing body art
To continue the fun of face painting when they get home, why not give each child a small tube of glow paint? No child can resist face-painting, especially when the paint they use glows in the dark. Include some glittery temporary tattoos to complete the look.
We hope these budget party bag filler suggestions have helped you feel inspired about planning your next kids’ party. Please do remember that age appropriate gifts should always be given, and supervision is advised.
Happy party planning! The kids are gonna glow wild!
We are fully aware that glow stick fans love their glow stick products so much, they want them to last as long as possible. We completely understand not wanting the fun to end! Plus, it saves money and time if you can use the same product more than once, especially if you run a kids club or sports club that uses glow sticks all the time.
When it comes to using glow sticks, one of the most common questions asked is “can you recharge a glow stick?”, to which the standard answer is no. But don’t despair just yet!
Why you can’t recharge a glow stick
Glow sticks are designed and made to be used as a single use item, to be immediately disposed of after they have stopped glowing. They get their glow from a chemical reaction called chemiluminescence. When you crack a glow stick two chemicals are mixed together to produce light. There’s no way to reverse the chemical reaction, so you can’t recharge the glow in your glow stick.
However….
Whatever you use glow sticks for, whether it is for weekend festivals, clubbing, kids clubs or fashion statements, the fun doesn’t have to end after one single use.
Yes, glow sticks are single use items, but you can extend that single use with a few tricks. They can’t exactly be recharged, but their use can be prolonged, here’s how;
How to make your glow stick last longer
Using glow sticks as they are, they will last from a few hours to a few days. Heat speeds-up the chemical reaction that produces the glow. So the more heat they are exposed to, the brighter they will glow but the faster they will fade and ‘go out’.
To keep your glow stick going for longer, the trick is to keep putting them in the freezer. When you freeze a glow stick, the chemical reaction that keeps them glowing is slowed right down, and although there hasn’t been a study done, the sticks seem to be recharged to a point after they have been frozen.
To make your glow stick last longer you need to freeze the stick after activating it and whilst it still glows. If the glow stick has completely gone out, freezing it will not recharge it at all.
When you want to enjoy the stick again, just get it out of the freezer, let it thaw a little, then shake it to help it glow again. This is a process you can repeat over and over again but the glow stick will keep fading, eventually losing its glow completely.
So, can you recharge a glow stick?
Glow sticks are made to be used and then disposed of, but you can prolong the fun using your trusty freezer. The process is more like prolonging than recharging, but it is pretty awesome that you can get more than one use out of your glow stick, right? In terms of survival situations or camping with glow sticks, clearly this method isn’t appropriate and it is a good idea to have back-up glow sticks with you.
With kids parties and kids clubs this is a great process to try out, for the sake of saving money and the convenience of reusing the same products over and over again. That being said, glow sticks aren’t expensive. So if you need to buy a truck-load of glow sticks for a big event, checkout our wholesale glow stick pricing to save a few pounds.
Happy glowing, and freezing, and glowing, and freezing, and glowing, and freezing….
As with many things in life, adhering to instructions keeps you safe. Follow the precautions accompanying your glow sticks and you’ll find that they most certainly are safe for children.
Not all glow sticks are exactly the same, so it is important to read the package instructions detailing how to activate them and whether they are safe for children. Check if the products you have purchased;
* carry the CE mark – the manufacturer’s declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation…’ Find out more here
* conform to the British EN71 standard – a standard which applies to all toys sold in the EU. It guarantees that all toys meet certain minimum safety standards.
Glowtopia products conform to the above standards
Individual products come with safety guidance on either the product packaging or the product information pages. Make sure you read these guidelines about activation and their recommended minimum age guide.
Keep the chemicals contained.
Keep the chemicals contained and you have a safe activity! Glow sticks are not designed to be cut open or used in any way other than as intended by the manufacturer. Keep them sealed as they’re designed to be.
When you activate glow sticks, the chemicals inside mix together to cause the luminescence. These chemicals are low in toxicity and not dangerous, but should be treated with caution and respect. If swallowed or squirted on to the skin or into eyes, the liquid can cause irritation.
Word to the wise- if any of the luminescent fluid comes into contact with the skin or eyes, simply rinse with water. Any symptoms from ingestion shouldn’t last very long, but if you are concerned, contact your GP.
Are glow sticks safe for all children?
Our glow sticks are not suitable for those under 3 yearsof age. Babies pretty much put everything in their mouths. And once teeth have made an appearance, well, suffice to say you don’t want to be finding bite marks anywhere on these products!
Our glow sticks are safe for children over3 years old with adult supervision. Generally speaking, the older the child, the less likely they are to chew or suck random objects, but also the more unpredictable they can be. Make sure they don’t start attacking them with scissors or try to overbend them or snap them in half. Some glow sticks keep one of the chemicals separate from the other in a glass vial inside the plastic glow stick tube. Once the glow stick has been activated, if it is continually re-bent or folded, the tiny shards of that glass vial may puncture the plastic.
Don’t be tempted to cut them open for any science-y experiments you might have found on Pinterest.
The magic of luminescence means these novelties will always have a place in the lives of children and young adults- think parties, firework night, Halloween, and festivals to name but a few. Their versatile and effortless nature guarantee lasting popularity. So if you’re asking the question are glow sticks safe for children, our answer would be yes they are, if handled responsibly and with supervision where necessary.
We all spend the beginning of the year doing things for ourselves: losing weight, treating ourselves to a new set of clothes, booking summer holidays – usually to get through the doom and gloom that is a UK winter. Now we edge our way towards spring, it’s a really great time to plan to do something for others. What better way to improve yourself this year than by helping to improve the lives of those in need? Good karma and all that right?
A walk or a run as a fundraiser is a pretty great idea, because it is healthy, it makes the event very visible and builds a real sense of achievement. Planning a glow run adds an entirely new element to the run or walk, because it’s unusual and more exciting than a daytime event.
If you’re planning a glow run fundraiser, follow these tips for success:
The Run/ Walk
There are so many different things to think about when you plan your run or walk, especially if it is in the dark.
Route: The route impacts everything else, including safety, signage, parking, and enjoyment. Consider the route, and consider if it is suitable for glow in the dark run.
Safety: Without even thinking about the glow in the dark aspect of the run, the safety is paramount. Think about things like traffic, construction sites, pedestrians who aren’t in the event. Have a deep think about potential hazards.
Resources: You’ll need to think about things like bins, food, drinks, toilets, signage, rope and barriers, sound systems, lighting (specific to this type of event) and staff.
The Legal Side Of Things
When you do a charity walk or run you may need permission to use the area you set up in or use. Insurance, regulations and lots of other red tape may apply so speak to your local council and get advice from the charity you are supporting.
Getting People Involved
Marketing is key if you want anyone to turn up to your event. Clearly you can advertise in local papers and so on, but the best thing to do is get out and about locally, and utilise social media because it is so far reaching.
Getting People Registered
It is so important to make it easy for people to register, otherwise they may be put off. Online registration via your social media and website presence will work best. You might want to think about an incentive to sign up, such as a free glow stick for the run. You will also want to set up emails and communication with them up until the date and afterwards to get them to sign up for next years event, perhaps for a discounted early bird rate.
Glowing Fun Run
As you are doing a glow in the dark run, you have special things to think about. Primarily make sure that you really go to town on the marketing, highlighting how special and cool it is because it is glow in the dark.
You could also integrate a special aspect like ‘warriors’ or 90’s rave to suggest dressing up and using UV paints and accessories. Look at current charity glow in the dark runs like London’s Glow In The Park and RNIB Glow Neon Fun Run. Safety is also so important with an event like this, as there’s nothing fun about people tripping and falling in the dark – the route needs to be clearly outlined, and any potential hazards need cordoning off or lighting up.
The Glow Sticks
And of course, no glow run fundraiser would be complete without a multitude of glow sticks. That’s where we can help. We supply all our items at wholesale pricing with price breaks between various quantities. And if you order before 2pm Mon-Fri we’ll dispatch your order that same day. That’s one less thing to think about when you organise your glow run!
Hopefully you’re feeling super inspired to organise your own glow run fundraiser, we are certain it’s glowing to be a big success!
A lot of people are curious about whether or not glow sticks are temperature sensitive, and particularly ask the question ‘do glow sticks last longer in the cold?’. It isn’t a silly question, especially in relation to what is, through all its fun uses and attractive aesthetic, a chemical reaction in a tube.
Perhaps you have heard that placing your glow stick (activated) in the freezer will make it last longer? Maybe you’re genuinely curious about how your environment, when using your glow stick, will affect the strength of brightness, and the amount of time the stick lasts for?
Well, we’re here to answer your questions once and for all.
So, Do glow sticks last longer in the cold?
Yes!
The short of it is yes, it is true that glow sticks last longer in the cold. No need to ask yourself ‘do glow sticks last longer in the cold?’ any more, because you now know it is true. Yay!
Chemiluminescence is a chemical reaction that occurs within a glow stick, it creates the glowing effect in any glow chemical product. Find out more about how glow sticks work in our blog post about the science behind glow sticks.
Temperature directly affects glow chemical products, whatever form they are in. The reason an activated glow stick lasts longer in colder temperatures is because the colder temperatures slow down the chemical reaction. By placing a glow stick in the freezer you freeze the chemicals, slowing the reaction right down. Freezing a glow stick is like ‘turning off’ the chemical reaction that causes the glow effect. This is the case for any glow chemical product. Do bear in mind though that prolonging the glow does in turn result in a dimmer glow effect.
Does Putting The Glow Stick In Cold Water Work As Well As Freezing It?
Putting a glow stick in cold water will also slow the process down, just not to the extent of freezing it.
How Does Heat Affect A Glow Stick
So, as you know cold slows down a chemical reaction in a glow stick, it makes sense that heat would do the opposite. Having a glow stick in a hot environment creates a brighter glow, which is great, but it does speed up the process, therefore shortening the glow effect of the stick exposed to heat.
Can I Defrost A Glow Stick In The Microwave?
No! Please don’t! This is extremely dangerous and could cause your glow stick to explode or melt. Instead run it or sit it in warm (not hot) tap water to defrost the chemicals inside.
How Long Will My Activated Glow Stick Last Without Freezing It?
If you just want to enjoy your stick for its natural lifespan, expect it to last for at least 12 hours. This is dependant on the manufacturer, the storage, the packaging and your use of it.
So, do glow sticks last longer in the cold? Yes they do! How great is that, a really easy way to prolong the life of your super-fun accessory. With this information, there’s glow stopping you!
Ever the romantics at Glowtopia, we’ve put our heads together and come-up with some ideas to use glow stuff to make this Valentine’s day special. Bet you never knew that a few glow sticks and a tube of UV body paint could be THIS romantic.
As February the 14th approaches, those of you who are single are likely to already be avoiding smug couples, having stockpiled enough food to last you until you can visit the supermarket again, without having to pass by a sea of sickly cards and fluffy gifts.
The loved-up amongst you, clogging up the supermarket aisles at this time of year, are likely to be spending this Valentine’s Day with a new date, with a partner, a wife, a husband or even a plethora of cats. Whoever you happen to be in a relationship with, now is the time to plan the Valentine’s to beat all Valentine’s.
Forget flowers, or chocolates, teddy bears or mix CDs. What you need is a glow in-the-dark Valentine’s. It may have never crossed your mind, but after you read our glow-in-the-dark Valentine’s suggestions, you’ll wonder why you never did it before! There’s never been a better reason to turn the lights off and whip out a glow stick…
1. Glow Stick Hide & Seek
Hide and seek is a playful game, which brings out the inner child in all of us. You could play it in the daytime, but it is much more fun to play it in the dark at home. Using UV body paint, have fun painting each other before you turn the lights off and one of you runs off to hide whilst the other counts to 30, then play glow in the dark hide and seek! Clothes – optional….
2. Glow In The Dark Bath
Ditch the candles and opt for a romantic bath with glow sticks, which actually create quite a nice lighting effect for a Valentine’s Day couples bath.
Perhaps you want to enjoy a Valentine’s Day with your friends this year. In which case, romantic music and flowers could be a bit weird. Instead of weeping over a chick-flick or moaning about past exes, go for something unique and cool, like a glow in the dark party. Use glow sticks to light up the entire table, get hold of some of our glow stick straws, and maybe give a pot of UV paint out with the invites so all your guests can glow for it with their outfits. Check-out these glow-in-the-dark party ideas for more inspiration.
4. Glow Stick Chandelier
If you want to swing from the chandeliers in a completely unique way this year, why not gift your partner with a unique chandelier they will never forget. Hook these glow stick lanyards onto a hoop and hang from the ceiling. Here’s an easy tutorial on how to make your own glow in the dark chandelier.
5. Neon Love Note
If you have written a lot of love notes for your significant other over the years, you need to give them an extra reason to be excited about your glorious love-laced scribblings this February 14th. Why not scrap the paper, and write a cute message in glow sticks like this one by Smile and Wave DIY. You could do this on the living room floor, or even stick the glow sticks to the wall outside to proclaim your love to all.
6. Choose Life, Choose A Private Rave
Did you meet in the 90’s? Are you both fans of the original Trainspotting soundtrack? Do you both like to nod your head, blow your whistle and wave your arms about to the same beat for hours? Start your own glow stick war at home and have a private rave together, for nostalgia and an excuse to listen to ‘so awful they are great’ 90’s acid house tracks.
It’s alright getting some UV body paint and making each other look like life-size versions of your kids’ art on the fridge, but if you can look more arty, why not? Many places offer paint in the dark body painting classes for couples, which not only gives your painting a sense of occasion, but provides a shared experience which is always a good thing.
8. A Private Festival
If you met at a festival, or maybe you both like going to festivals together, and the wet and windy weather is getting you both down, the perfect solution for Valentine’s Day is a festival! It could be themed around your relationship, and you can host a glow stick war to your favourite festival anthem, you could decorate wellies together, create a little VIP area in the living room, make flower garlands, drink beer, UV paint each other – what’s not to love about a private festival?
Why not make some body paint art together? Get some large pieces of paper and put them on the wall or on the floor, and get making the next masterpiece!
10. Find The Glow Stick
To encourage some playful physical contact, why not play find the glow stick? Where you hide it of course, is up to you – in your armpit, under your back on the floor, etc etc…. the trick is that the person finding the glow stick is not allowed to look for the glow stick with their hands or feet.
11. Glow In The Dark Charades With Rewards
Write notes that are rewards for him and put them in a jar, then make a jar of her rewards and a third jar of sports actions you can translate, then play glow in the dark charades with glasses, sticks and other accessories. When a charade is correctly guessed, the player gets their reward. Clearly, as it is Valentine’s Day, rewards are romantically themed…
12. Sexy Glow In The Dark After Work Surprise
If you are planning on investing in some sexy underwear to surprise your partner when they come home from work, why not light the path upstairs with glow sticks? Or, you could tell them to leave all the lights off when they come home, and use only a glow stick to find their surprise.
Together, make cute glow stick photos, waving them around in the dark to create a pattern in the air. Or, why not make your own photo with a friend outlining your partner’s first initial, or a heart, and frame it as a cute valentines day gift.
14. Glow In The Dark Path To Al Fresco Dining
If you are making the effort to cook your beau a special Valentine’s dinner, why not set up some chairs, blankets, hot chocolates and other treats outside. Let your lover find this beautiful spot under the stars via a glow in the dark path made from glow sticks.
We hope that our glowing recommendations for neon activities have set your mind alight with ideas for this upcoming Valentine’s. Happy February 14th!
Festivals are a chaotic and wildly fun explosion of mud, celebration, music, food, drink and friendship. They are also the most epic opportunity to wear the most outrageous clothes that would look absolutely insane in almost any other setting. Wellingtons and short shorts, floral macs, flower garland headbands, and of course: everything UV and glow stick. There’s never a bad reason to wave your festival light stick around like it ain’t no thang!
Some folks agree with the freedom of light stick fun so much, they’ve created some of the most insane light stick moments in history. While you wait to waft your own glow stick around in a muddy field to epic music (hurry up summer!), we’re going to give you a warm glow on the inside, with these 5 insane festival light stick moments:
You might not know that glow sticks actually started out as a military technology a very long time ago, but the public didn’t get to know about these incredible inventions until the 1970’s.
In Connecticut in New Haven, at a venue called the Yale Bowl, a Grateful Dead fan decided to make this gig ‘lit’ in a way no other gig had ever been before. The fan happened to work in a factory that finished off the assembly of glow sticks, for an American company. He stored hundreds and hundreds of sticks at his home over the summer, and on the night of the gig, got 6 of his friends together, and everybody loaded up backpacks with the glow sticks.
They struggled to keep the sticks away until the gig started, but managed to wait until a few songs into the Grateful Dead playing. You can get a feel for the style of the band on an actual recording of the band at the gig here. They then started handing sticks out and telling people to break it, shake-it-up and throw it. This caused absolutely chaos and astonishment as most people had never ever seen a glow stick before, including the band.
Soon, the sheer crazy sight of glow sticks flying around made the gig fall to a complete standstill. Soon after the frenzy had died down, the band started playing again but this time with glow sticks in hand. Jerry Garcia was known to say “I don’t know what these are, but they’re pretty f****** cool.” as he held some up to the crowd.
In 1997, at Great Went Phish Festival there was one stunning, epic and unforgettable occurrence that secured that particular festivals place in the history books, and that is the world famous glow stick war that occurred throughout the Harry Hood set.
Glow sticks and glow rings have always been a part of Phish events throughout history, but this was by far the most incredible spectacle that had happened so far. As the band settled into an improvisation section of their set, they requested the lights go out so everyone could enjoy the moon and the burning sculpture at the festival.
With the moonlight glowing down on the crowd, one fan decided to throw a glow stick, as did another, and another, until eventually the entire sky was filled with thousands of glow sticks flying around.
The visual spectacle of the glow sticks was further enhanced by the band shaping their music to the movement of the glow sticks. Fans still talk about that set today and how magical the combination of the fans, the moonlight and the glow sticks, and the music together, made something completely unique.
3. Staithes Festival Light Sticks On The Beach
The Mighty Glow Stick Extravaganza Saturday 20:50 – 22:30By popular demand, the glow-sticks will be back this year,…
Staithes, a small fishing village, isn’t exactly the kind of place you would expect to get even a whiff of a glow stick. However, in September 2016, the beach of Staithes was well and truly lit. Perhaps in a slightly less thumping fashion than the examples we mention elsewhere in our article, but lit nonetheless.
Musicians and bands did indeed fill the Festival Of Art with music, but visually, the usual sculptures, crafts and glass creations that fill the village were overshadowed, by a beach covered in glow sticks.
Light artist Mich Stephenson decided to create a massive beautiful glow stick installation, which created light that formed shadows onto the cliffs where Sculptor Emma Stothard had sculpted dinosaurs, and Ste Iredale placed wooden carvings of a fish shoal emerging from the sea. Check out the awesome images of the spectacle here. It might not have been a ‘crazy’ moment, but we’re willing to bet the village of Staithes will never be that full of glow sticks lighting up the beach again.
4. Xylobands From Coldplay Integrate The Crowd Into Their Gig
Coldplay’s Xyloband wristbands, which they have been using since 2012, managed to make a very muddy Glastonbury last year into a very beautiful one.
During his set, the wrist bands play glow either red, yellow or blue all synched with the timing and music set by the band, so everybody wearing one gets to be part of the show.
The wristbands are like an advance on lighters which were usually lit during Coldplay ballads, with thousands in the crowd waving them to join in. These days, smoking is very much on the way out and many people don’t have a lighter on them anymore, and as you can hardly wave an e-cigarette around for visual effect, the band created Xylobands so that the crowd could continue to join in and enjoy being part of their set.
The sea of lights waving and darting around to Chris Martin’s beautiful voice, was certainly enough to warm up anyone in what was otherwise quite a wet and miserable muddy Glastonbury. Check out the complete Coldplay 2016 Glastonbury set here.
During an epic performance in 2010, Bassnectar made history by playing his hit ‘All Good’ to what was, one of the most incredible glow stick wars ever seen. Covered in UV green paint himself, Bassnectar (US DJ Lorin Ashley), he turns the decks, as the crowd wave their sticks in the air, hands splattered in UV paint, and as the bass drops, the glow sticks start getting thrown, thousands of them. Along with the heavy bass, the flashing stage lighting, the UV painted bodies and faces of the crowd, and the highly electric atmosphere, the glow sticks flying about are like an explosion of heightened emotion and excitement. Take a look at the full performance here, we challenge you not to move to the beat!
Get Festival Ready With Glowtopia
If you want to be part of the next epic glow stick war, get hold of our glow festival pack so that you can help the next gig you go to, get well and truly lit!
