Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt: Our Favorite Tradition for Kids of All Ages (Indoor or Outdoor!)

It was the spring of 2020, and basically everything was cancelled (remember that?). No egg hunts at the park, no church events, no big family gatherings. I was determined to make Easter feel special anyway, so I started brainstorming and landed on something I had never tried before — a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt after dark in our own backyard.

You guys. It was an instant hit from round one.

What started as pure pandemic necessity became one of our most beloved family Easter traditions. When my kids were little, we would do this literally dozens of times in a single day. They would beg for one more round before bed, and honestly, who could say no? We still do it every single Easter, and I get asked about it every spring without fail.

So if you are looking for a unique Easter egg hunt idea that works for toddlers through teenagers, indoors or out, rain or shine — this is the one. Easy setup, minimal supplies, and I promise even your skeptical middle schooler will be running around the backyard in the dark having the time of their life.

DIY after dark easter egg hunt — Plastic Eggs | Finger Lights

What You Need for a Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt

The supply list is short, simple, and very affordable — which is part of why this tradition has stuck for us year after year.

Plastic Easter eggs — hinged ones are a total game changer because the tops and bottoms stay slightly connected, and you are not hunting for matching halves all night long (find them here!)

Finger lights — my favorite option because you can reuse them year after year, round after round (find them here!)

Mini glow sticks — a great budget-friendly alternative that doubles as a fun prize for the kids. Just know you cannot reuse them (find them here!).

Tape or rubber bands as needed

You can order everything online or make a quick run to your local Dollar Tree and grab eggs and glow bracelets for a very budget-friendly version. Either way, the total setup cost is minimal, and most of it tucks away in a bin for next Easter.

glow in the dark easter egg hunt idea for kids — Plastic Eggs | Finger Lights

How to Set Up Your Glow-in-the-Dark Easter Egg Hunt

Turn on your finger lights and pop one inside each plastic egg. If the eggs won’t stay closed, wrap a small rubber band around them or secure them with a piece of tape. That is really all there is to it. Setup takes about fifteen minutes, and the fun lasts all night.

Wait until it gets dark, then hide the eggs around your backyard or living room and let the kids loose. The darker the space, the more magical it feels, and I promise even teenagers think this is the coolest thing. For older kids, you can get more creative with hiding spots — behind plant pots, tucked under patio furniture, balanced on a ledge, half hidden in the flower beds.

Since finger lights and glow sticks come in multiple colors, assign a different color to each child so everyone hunts for their own eggs at their own pace. Less chaos, more fun. Well, a delightful amount of chaos.

Bonus tip: If you use glow sticks, pop the extras in a zip-lock bag and store them in the freezer after the hunt. It actually extends the glow’s lifespan, so you can use them again. I heard this trick years ago, and it works!

Indoor Easter Egg Hunt Option

One of the best things about this nighttime Easter egg hunt is that the weather simply does not matter. If it is raining or cold outside, pull the curtains, turn off the lights, and move the whole thing indoors.

It works just as well, and honestly, it feels even more magical in a darkened living room. This is one of our go-to indoor Easter egg hunt ideas for exactly that reason — it requires almost nothing and delivers so much joy, no matter what the weather is doing outside.

Fun Variations to Try

Try a timed round and see who can find a set number of eggs the fastest. Older kids and teenagers especially love this version.

Assign colors and let each child hunt only for their color — this is great for mixed ages so the littles are not getting left in the dust by older siblings.

Put money inside each egg instead of candy. My mom does an annual adult Easter egg hunt loaded with coins and bills and it gets very competitive very fast. Highly recommend for the grown-up crowd.

Add candy inside if you want, just know it can dim the glow a little — consider giving a prize for the most eggs found instead.

Give smaller kids easier hiding spots and save the tricky spots for the older ones so everyone has a fair shot and nobody melts down before round two.

Egg Your Friends and Neighbors

This one started during the pandemic, too, and it has absolutely stuck as one of our favorite Easter family activities. We make up a batch of glowing eggs, sneak over to a friend’s house after dark, hide them in the yard, tape the “You’ve Been Egged” sign to the door, ring the doorbell, and run.

It is so silly. It is so fun. It never fails to put a huge smile on someone’s face.

Download your free “You’ve Been Egged” printable right here and go spread a little Easter joy this year!