Looking for a fun, budget-friendly outdoor activity that will wow the kids after sunset? Nothing goes better with that twilight magic than Glow Bowling — a creative twist on classic bowling that uses recycled water bottles and glow sticks to create glowing pins that light up the night!
Whether you’re planning a backyard party, a camping trip, or just want to make an ordinary evening extraordinary, this easy DIY game will light up smiles as much as it lights up the lawn. There’s nothing like sitting around the camp fire watching as your kids bowl a perfect strike – or a complete gutter ball – while laughing and enjoying the summer night air. Or turn a stormy night power outage into a family fun bowling night right in your kitchen with these simple supplies!
What You’ll Need:
- 10 empty plastic water bottles (any size works, but 16-20 oz is ideal)
- 10 glow sticks (available at dollar stores or online in bulk)
- A small ball (a rubber playground ball or soccer ball works great – if you want the ball to glow as well, a wiffle ball with glow sticks inside works too!)
- Optional: Water or sand to weigh down the bottles
- Dark outdoor space (like your backyard, driveway, or park)
How to Make the Glowing Pins:
- Clean and Remove Labels
Start by rinsing out the water bottles and peeling off any labels for a cleaner look. - Add Glow Sticks
Activate a glow stick by bending it until it snaps and starts glowing. Drop one into each bottle. For extra glow, you can add two sticks per bottle or mix colors for a rainbow effect! - Weigh Them Down
If it’s a windy evening or your ball is heavy, add a little water or sand to the bottles for stability. Just don’t fill them too much — you want them to fall over when hit! - Set Up the Pins
Arrange the bottles in a traditional bowling triangle — one pin in the front row, two behind it, then three, then four. Do this on a flat, smooth surface for best results. If you’re bowling with toddlers, I find that six pins is more than enough.
How to Play (It’s just like real bowling!):
- Take Turns Bowling: Have kids take turns rolling the ball toward the glowing pins. Each player gets two rolls per turn, just like real bowling.
- Keep Score (or Not!): You can keep score for older kids or just play for fun.
- Glow Variations: Try using different colored glow sticks for each team or add glow necklaces to the players for full nighttime fun.
Why Kids Love It:
- It Glows! Everything is better when it glows in the dark — it’s practically magic.
- Hands-On and Active: This game gets kids moving and playing creatively.
- Recycled Materials: It’s a great way to reuse water bottles and turn them into something fun and functional.
Make It Even Cooler:
- Use a glow-in-the-dark ball or fill a wiffle ball with glow sticks.
- Turn it into a mini tournament with prizes or glow-in-the-dark medals.
- Add music and snacks for a full glow party experience!
Glow Bowling is such a simple game — but more importantly, it’s a memory-maker. Kids love the colorful lights, the friendly competition, and the chance to play outside even after the sun goes down. There’s something magic about those twilight and night time hours as a kid, and glow bowling makes it even more magical.
So grab those empty bottles, crack a few glow sticks, and get ready for an unforgettable evening of glowing fun under the stars!