Glow stick necklaces are perhaps most popular for children to wear during Halloween or for campers to wear as makeshift lanterns.

Glow stick necklaces work just like any other glow stick, the result of a chemical mixture. Most commercial glow sticks are composed of hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate ester. One of these chemicals is incased in a small glass vial within the plastic tube. When the plastic tube is bent, the glass is broken and the two chemicals mix, emitting a light. The color of the light is dependent on the fluorescent dye that is most often stored in the plastic case and not within the glass vial.

While some glow stick necklaces are made by attaching a short, plastic tube to a string, most are made out of very long, thin tubes that are formed into a loop to be placed over the head. These glow stick necklaces, often 22 inches in length, can come in one or more colors. Glow stick necklaces are fairly inexpensive and can be found online for as little as a $1 each, though they must usually be purchased online in packages of 10 or more.

In addition to Halloween, glow stick necklaces are most often found at carnivals and late-night events. However, their inexpensive nature allows them to be a fun, colorful way to light up the night at any time of the year and for any reason.