Ultimate Guide to Using Sparklers for Birthdays

Birthday parties are synonymous with cakes, candles, presents, and fun activities. However, one aspect that many people have overlooked is birthday sparklers and how they can enhance your party. Though our website is mainly dedicated to sparklers for weddings, our products work well for a wide variety of events and celebrations. In fact, there are even versions specifically made for putting on top of your cake! To help inspire your upcoming party, I’ve put together this ultimate guide to using sparklers for birthdays. Here’s what you need to know.

Though we have all used them throughout our lives, using them at birthdays is probably a newer concept for most. Like everything else, advanced planning and a complete understanding of your options are crucial to a successful event. Hopefully, these tips will guide you down the correct path.

What are Birthday Sparklers?

On the surface, birthday sparklers seem fairly self-explanatory; and in many ways they are. In the simplest terms they are just sparklers that you use at a party. However, it is the way that they are used that makes them so special. Moreover, having a specific purpose in mind means it’s very important to choose the correct type. I’ll cover the different ways they can be used and how to choose the right versions later, but it’s important to understand the importance of those factors before continuing. In a nutshell, sparklers for birthdays are either small enough for children to hold or are designed to be displayed on a cake. By accepting those facts, you’re well on your way to understanding exactly what they are.

How to Use Sparklers at a Birthday Party

Deciding how to use them at your event is very important before deciding which version to buy. While there are many great ways they can be utilized, there are a few ways that stand out the most. Here are my favorite ideas to give you some inspiration.

Party Favors

Overall, the easiest way to use our products at your event is to hand them out as party favors. This is great for older kids that can be trusted to use them safely on their own. However, if the party is for smaller children, using them as favors may be a bad idea. In the end, it is all about the maturity of the guests and how much supervision they will require to be safe.

Decorate the Cake

Another popular option is to use them to replace the normal candles on your cake. Luckily, we offer special cake sparklers that are designed for this very purpose! Just stick them in the frosting, light the tops, and the show will be much better than traditional candles provide. Additionally, you can use them in concert with candles if you want them to be able to blow the flames out. Either way, this method can be a real show stopper.

Show Your Age

There are a lot of uniquely shaped versions of our products including hearts and stars. However, the ones that are shaped like numbers work best for a birthday! You can create a really great photo opportunity by having the guest of honor hold one that is in the shape of their age. If they are in the double-digits, it will require holding 2. Optionally, you can also use these on top of a cake instead of candles shaped like numbers

Adult Birthdays

Of course, not all birthday parties are geared towards children. Fortunately, there are options that will delight people of any age. Obviously, you can just go the traditional route since everyone loves to use our products. However, we offer special bottle sparklers that can make your special champagne toast a better experience. Just attach one to the bottle, light it, and enter the room for a show-stopping presentation. It’s a great way to remind adults that their event is special regardless of their age!

Choosing the Best Sparklers for Birthdays

Once you’ve decided how you plan to use them, it’s time to decide which version will work best for your needs. As part of this ultimate guide, I’ll cover the different versions that are available so you can get the most out of your celebration. Here’s what you need to know.

Traditional Versions

The traditional version of our products is what people are most familiar with. They come 6 to a sleeve, and they are available in length of 10 inch, 20 inch, and 36 inch. These work great for taking photos and handing out as party favors, but they are not ideal for putting on cakes. Additionally, I suggest choosing 10 inch sparklers if the event is for children because they are easy to handle. For older participants, you can choose a longer length to make the fun last longer.

Color Versions

Color versions of our products offer the ease of traditional styles with the added element of color pigments. They can be great if the birthday boy or girl has a favorite color. However, they create quite a bit of smoke so they should only be used outdoors. Additionally, they are only available in a limited amount of sizes. Lastly they are not suitable to be placed on top of a cake as they will damage the frosting.

Specifically for Cakes

If you want to put them on your cake, you should stick to versions made specifically for that purpose. Birthday cake sparklers are slightly different from traditional versions because have a small red spike to secure it through the frosting. Furthermore, they have a flat surface on top to be lit rather than a normal tip. Using them on cakes is my personal favorite option and will create a very memorable experience.

Designed for Bottles

For adult parties, bottle sparklers are always my top choice. As I mentioned, you just attach them to a bottle before presenting it for a toast. However, it’s important to use a sparkler safety clip to ensure the safety of your guests. Under no circumstances should they be used without the proper safety clip or you run the risk of injury or property damage.

How Many Should I Order?

Knowing how many sparklers to order for a birthday party depends on how you want to use them and how many guests you’re expecting to attend. For ease, here is a quick list of types in conjunction with how many you’ll need to order.

• Traditional Versions: One Sleeve per Guest
• Color Versions: One Sleeve per Guest
• Cake: One Package of Four
• Bottles: One Package of Four

Easiest Way to Light Birthday Sparklers with Children

One of the most challenging aspects you’ll face at the party is getting them lit safely when children are present. Unlike catering to adults, you can’t simply hand them a lighter and let them go to town. So how can this feat be achieved safely?

First, I always suggest having an adult light them before handing them to the children. This can be complicated if you have a lot of people at the party, so you may need several adults. Additionally, you’ll need a reliable way to light them quickly such as a sparkler torch lighter to speed the process up. Lastly, make sure you have one adult who is just supervising the entire process. It’s hard to supervise and light them at the same time, so having one over-arching supervisor will make the whole process a lot safer.

Hopefully, you now have a firm understanding of what they actually are. Next, I’ll cover some important things to consider before you make a purchase. In this section of my ultimate guide to sparklers for birthdays, I’ll discuss where to shop, the importance of quality, and when to place your order.

Best Place to Shop for Birthday Sparklers

During the summer months, finding sparklers at a local store is pretty easy. In fact, you can even find them at convenience stores in some parts of the country! However, there are other times that it can be very challenging to find a place to buy sparklers.

Fortunately, you can always find them right here on our website. We offer the largest selection, fast shipping times, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Most importantly, we carry versions for cakes and bottles that aren’t stocked at ordinary stores. If you want the best selection and brands, look no further than this very site.

Why Quality Matters

Most people are always aware that quality matters, but it’s extremely important with this type of item. If you choose a subpar brand, it can increase the risk of injury because of poor manufacturing processes.

Additionally, some companies sell factory seconds or items that have been damaged by moisture and time. For birthdays, particularly involving children, quality should be one of your top concerns before making a purchase.

Plan Ahead for Shipping Time

Shipping our products is a bit more complex than your average online order. Mainly, it’s due to the fact that they are technically considered “flammable”. Per regulations, birthday sparklers can’t be shipped via air. Unfortunately, that means we cannot offer overnight shipping under any circumstances. Moreover, it limits us to only offer shipping to the continental 48 states. However, we offer an expedited ground shipping option to ensure your package arrives as quickly as possible. Here’s a breakdown of our shipping options.

• Economy Shipping: Typically 5-7 Business Days
• Upgraded Ground Shipping: Typically 3-4 Business Days

Research the Company in Detail

Lastly, the reputation of the company you order from needs to be sterling. I won’t lie; we are not the only company out there than can deliver your items. However, we have spent years choosing the highest quality products and developing relationships with our partners. Additionally, we have the strongest focus on customer service and satisfaction in the industry. Want to see for yourself? Check out our reviews on Wedding Wire to see what all the buzz is about. And, no matter which company you choose, please make sure to research them thoroughly before placing an order.

I’ve mentioned it before, but it certainly needs repeating: safety is the primary concern when using sparklers for birthdays. Additionally, you need to make sure that you’re following all the applicable state and local laws at your event. Here are some key tips to ensure you’re achieving both.

Protecting Your Children’s Hands and Other Safety Tips

Keeping your children’s hands safe while they are using sparklers at a birthday party is very important. After all, they are the only thing on Earth that burns over 1000 degrees that you hand to a child! Of course, it’s important to educate your kids and provide proper supervision. However, there is also a really cool device you can construct from a cup to create a physical barrier for their hands. I’ll cover the basic steps, and also link to the page with the full instructions.

First, you need to find a plastic cup that fits over your child’s hand. Almost any type will work, but a cheap disposable SOLO cup is the most cost-effective. Next, poke a small hole in the bottom of the cup and slip the handle through the hole. Now, your child’s hand can be safely inside the cup with the handle but the part that burns will be safely separated from their skin. You still need to supervise them closely, but it will eliminate any chance of severe injury to their hands.

Are Birthday Sparklers Legal in My State?

According to national law, sparklers are considered “novelties” and are not prohibited in any way. However, many state and local governments have placed additional restrictions on them. For this reasons, it’s important to check your local state fireworks laws before considering their use.

Most commonly, these restrictions will involve what time of year that their use is allowed. For instance, some states allow you to use them during June through August but prohibit them the rest of the year. Similarly, some states only allow them to be used during certain hours of the day. Sadly, there are a handful of states that prohibit them all together; but these are very few and far between. However, the best thing you can do is make a phone call to your local city hall or fire department before making your decision. After all, the last thing you want to have happen is the police crash your kid’s party!