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Last Updated: 01/12/2003
Glow Sticks are expensive props, but can be of some value in Halloween events.
For safety, it is a good idea to give the kids a large light stick to make there way around the neighborhood while trick-or-treating. It is a pretty neat
device and can be fun for kids.
Some props that could use a little light or erie effect might be good candidates for a light stick. Light sticks come in a variety of colors and sizes. There are
sticks, necklaces, ear rings, bracelets, buttons, eyeglasses, and probably more. Standard light sticks will last the night and industrial strength sticks will last into the morning and beyond. It is
a disposable prop, so don't get carried away. Light sticks cost anywhere from .75 to several dollars each.
Good resources for light sticks are Extreme Glow and Glow Products. Check out the bright hand glow gloves at Rave Heaven.
Costume Idea
In 1999, I attempted to construct a "NEON MAN" Halloween outfit. I purchase several light sticks of different sizes and shapes and planned on dressing in
black and attaching the sticks all over my outfit. The effect was good, but I sparing used only half of my inventory of light sticks, which was probably a mistake. However, after the investment, I
worried that I am going to waste $60 of light sticks on a one night event.
I purchase 20 or more of the 1 inch sticks thinking they would have the same diameter as the larger 3 inch sticks. However, I was wrong. They are very small. This caused
me some initial grief, but I rebounded quickly. At a craft store I bought a bag of pendant stick pins, sort of like safety pins, but they have a locking clasp and a straight bar for
attaching to button, pendants, or in my case, light sticks. I glued the little pins to each light stick and eventually pinned them to my outfit. You see this way, I could were cloths that I already
had, black pants, long sleeve black shirt, and not even damage them for the outfit.
The trick of the whole setup was the timing of the construction of the outfit. I had to wait to glue the light sticks to the pins until after I activated the light
sticks. The light sticks are activated by breaking small glass balls containing the reactionary chemical to mix with the inactive chemical to start the chemical reaction. Needless to say, I didn't want
to activate the glow sticks too soon, since they have a limited life expectancy. Therefore,
I waited until 1 hour before the party and snapped each stick and used a hot glue gun to glue the pin to each stick. It was a little stressful, but everything worked out.
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