Neon party ideas: group of people dancing at a club

If you’re ready to get your glow on, we’ve got tons of neon party ideas to help you celebrate. These ideas work for a birthday party, Galentine’s party, work event, New Year’s party, kids party, bachelorette, or a celebration just for fun.

In addition to party theme options, we’ve included decor, lighting, and outfit ideas woven throughout this list. Plus, you’ll find matching digital invitation designs. Get ready to glow!

13 Neon Theme Party Ideas

Consider us your pocket party planners — we’ve got tons of theme suggestions for brightly colored bashes. These neon and glow-in-the-dark party ideas will be lots of fun for your guests.

1. Dance Party

Neon party ideas: Disco Dance Party Invitation

Design: Owl and Toad

Matching Invitation: Disco Dance Party Invitation

A neon party theme is perfect for a dance party! Bring your bright oranges, pinks, yellows, and greens to the dance floor. You can wear neon body paint or face paint to make the theme go even further. Go out dancing with friends or create your own dance party at home.

Here are some DIY decor ideas for a neon party at home:

  • Streamers
  • Glow sticks
  • Neon balloons
  • Neon or glittery garlands
  • Disco balls
  • Fluorescent paint on banners
  • Table settings in bright colors or glow-in-the-dark shades
  • Neon signs
  • Neon paint splatters on posters

2. Karaoke Wig Night

Don neon wigs and go out for a night of singing your heart out with your pals. Wig nights are so popular that there are neon wig sets sold on Amazon in varying lengths, styles, and colors. 

You can go to a karaoke night where you sign up to get in the queue, or for some more efficient fun, go to a karaoke room where you are the stars all night. Coordinate with the group to dress in monochrome neon matching the color of your wig for a super-cool Crayola effect.

If you’re celebrating a birthday, make sure you queue up “Happy Birthday” as one of your songs!

3. Glow Cocktail Competition

Neon party ideas: Neon Cocktails Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

Matching Invitation: Neon Cocktails Invitation

This fun party idea gets everyone involved: have your friends prepare a platter of mini cocktails revolving around a glowing or neon theme. For example, someone could make a Mad Scientist cocktail that’s served in mini beakers. They could use tonic water and vitamin B2 drops to make the drink glow under a blacklight.

This is a good idea for mid-sized or small parties because each bartender will want to make enough for everyone at the party to have a small sampling. Go one at a time and have each person present and explain their beverage.

Party guests should vote on a winner at the end!

4. Bake Off

If you are hoping for a Hollywood Handshake one of these days, speed up the process with a Great British Bake Off party — neon style.

Set a challenge to make a neon-themed bake if you’ve got baking buddies. Provide all the ingredients they’d need for cakes with options for flavor variants, like fresh fruit, herbs, chocolate, sauces, flavor concentrates, and spices. Make it a bit easier by having everyone decorate a cake with neon frosting, sprinkles, and toppers. Your friends will feel like they’re in the tent either way!

Have a neutral party pick Star Baker, or cast votes as a group (you just can’t vote for yourself!). On your marks, get set, bake!

5. Blacklight Dinner

Neon party ideas: Glow Sticks Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

Matching Invitation: Glow Sticks Invitation

If you can create a dark room in your house, host a blacklight party where you dine in the dark! Install blacklight LED light bulbs, and cover up all the windows and light sources. Set the table with neon party decorations and tableware, and serve foods that will light up under the blacklight — anything white will do!

For fun before and after dinner, set up a photo booth with neon and dark balloons, eye-catching glittery elements, and neon paint.

6. Neon Pool Party

This neon party idea is fun for nighttime — have a neon glow party in the water! Turn on neon lights in the pool or around it. Add floating orbs with LED neon lights. Throw bright pink, yellow, green, and orange toys in a pool. Have guests wear their brightest suits, give out glow sticks as party favors, and watch everything go swimmingly.

7. Glow Costume Party

Neon Party Invitation

Design: Jessie Steury

Matching Invitation: Neon Party Invitation

Throw a costume party with a twist — all the outfits have to be glow- or neon-themed! This can be interpreted in many ways. Guests can wear neon or dress up as:

  • “Neon” singer John Mayer
  • The periodic table element “Ne” (neon)
  • A wrestler from the TV show “Glow”
  • Glowing-hair princess Rapunzel
  • A gold bar

Make it clear on the party invitation that creative interpretations are encouraged. After playing some party games, give a prize for the best dressed!

8. Neon Craft Night

We love this neon party idea for a crafty crew. Center your craft night around neon colors and crafts. Paint with neon paints, use colored pencils to create glow effects, make greeting cards with neon stickers, weave tapestries with neon colors, or make jewelry that glows in the dark. This is a really fun concept for a birthday party for kids or adults but can also work as a chill party just for fun.

9. Neon Murder Mystery

Party On Invitation

Design: Loree Mayer Design

Matching Invitation: Party On Invitation

Set your murder mystery party in the ‘80s and have everyone wear bright costumes for a fun twist on this traditionally dark party theme. There are tons of different murder mystery settings available in party packs you can purchase, so pick one that works with this theme.

10. “Let’s Glow Girls” Night

Grab your girls and get ready to shine with a glow-in-the-dark party. Dress up in bright colors or all white and have a progressive dinner: apps at one place, entrees at another, and dessert at a third spot. Finish the night by going dancing in your neon ‘fits … or go home and put on sheet masks while you watch a movie. Either one works.

11. Laser Tag

Laser Tag Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

Matching Invitation: Laser Tag Invitation

Gather friends for laser tag for a built-in neon-themed night. Wear your neons, and you’ll be set aglow in the laser arena that’s filled with UV black lights. Sign up for a few rounds, and watch everyone’s competitive spirit shine.

12. ‘80s Party

The 1980s are defined by neon colors, so celebrate this decade with a totally rad neon bash. Invite guests to set the vibe with ‘80s costumes: leggings, leg warmers, leotards, sweatbands, shoulder pads, harem pants, big sneakers, and tracksuits. 

Blast ‘80s tracks by Madonna, Prince, and Whitney Houston — maybe a bit of karaoke? Host decades trivia or a Complete the Lyrics game. End the night by eating a neon cake or cupcakes with brightly colored frosting.

13. Bowling

Neon Bowling Invitation

Design: Laura Bolter Design

Matching Invitation: Neon Bowling Invitation

Lots of bowling alleys have glow-in-the-dark nights — it’s called cosmic bowling! They turn off the lights and let LED black lights light up the night. Wear light colors to the bowling alley and get ready for a lucky strike.

Let’s Glow!

Once you’ve chosen your theme, pick out one of our ready-made (but customizable) neon party invitations and send it off in just a few clicks. We have tons of neon designs, so start scrolling and find an invitation that makes your heart glow. You’ll be able to message party guests and send automated reminders, which makes your task as the planner much easier.