Light-Up Halloween Balloon Columns and Arch

Halloween is right around the corner! YAY! So many fun parties and celebrations.. all calling for some super awesome and spooky balloon decor. Balloon columns are a fun way to add flare to your event BUT light-up ones are even better 🙂

My magic key ingredient are these remote control color changing lights (affiliate link) I bought on Amazon. I can’t stress enough how these durable lights have continued to make my light up columns the talk of the party. They are submersible in water, remote control, and the only require 3 AAA batteries. They can last up to 8 hours! It’s been a year since I’ve bought them and I’m still using them in all my evening parties.

Creatrek Submersible Led Lights,Remote Controlled Waterproof Multi Color Underwater Lights for Pond and Party with 4Pack

I placed these color changing lights in the 3ft latex toppers on 3 of the Trunk or Treat columns. One light per balloon. I followed Sandi Masori’s tutorial “How To Make Color Changing Balloon Lights“. It was a game-changer! I especially love her technique of adding the balloon when you have no extra helping hands. I do it often.

We had a jack-o-lantern and mascot bee vampire columns as well as an eyeball column.

The eyeball column was inspired by the cute little 5″ eyeball balloons I bought last year! I added 2 Dollar Tree LED lights up and down the pole of the column. I also added tiny LED balls (affiliate link) in each 5″ eyeball balloon. I think I got a little excited about lighting up the columns as much as possible.

Neo LOONS® 100pcs/lot 100 X White Round Led Flash Ball Lamp Balloon Light long standby time for Paper Lantern Balloon Light Party Wedding Decoration

The BEST Dollar Tree lights have been from last year’s Christmas season. They had clear strands and clear battery packs with bright white lights. They also had red and green options but I think I bought out all their white ones. I am officially a light hoarder.

When adding the LED strands I have the 2 battery packs sit in the middle of the balloons midway on the pole. One strand going up the column and one strand going down the column. Then when you are switching the column lights on and off, it’s in one easy to get to location in the back.

I also added the LED light strands to the spider columns. Which made for some cute photo ops outside. The only thing is the spiders get lost in the darkness. Another issue is that my strands going down got tangled somehow and the lights only went half way. I don’t think anyone notices but I do! Ug!

Then there’s the giant 26ft long arch. I followed Sandi’s tutorial on making an outdoor arch with supplies from the hardware store. Check out her tutorial here: Balloon Arch Frame (No Helium) – DIY Tutorial.

We did a 4-balloon spiral white, orange, orange and alternating silver/black stripe. I bases these colors on the left over balloons I had from the columns.

This was a lot of fun and a lot of planning, sketching, labor.. all done the day of the event. I can’t wait to do this years Trunk to Treat at my son’s school. The best feeling is how excited those kids get. There really is not better reward for a labor of love like this. 🙂