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Rainbow Unicorn Glitter Experiment

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This colorful rainbow unicorn glitter experiment is pure magic and science in one tray. Get ready to sparkle your way through one of the most dazzling science activities you’ve ever seen.

Side-by-side photos show a tray before and after the reaction of the rainbow unicorn glitter experiment: the left image features a layer of baking soda dotted with watercolor and glitter, while the right shows the same tray with foaming purple fizz and sparkling glitter erupting from beneath.

The sparkliest rainbow unicorn glitter experiment ever

We’ve done a lot of baking soda and vinegar experiments over the years, and this one is magical.

I first saw one of my favorite humans Jamie from Play to Learn Preschool make unicorn fizz, so I wanted to try my own twist on it.

Kids get to create a hidden rainbow, bury it with baking soda snow, and then bring it all to life with fizzy, glittery explosions of color.

Save this for a rainy day, a unicorn birthday party, or your next unicorn party idea—you’re going to want to do it more than once.

A foamy, bubbly surface in vibrant purples, pinks, and blues is covered in sparkling glitter and crater-like textures created by the chemical reaction during a rainbow unicorn glitter experiment.

No two unicorn fizz trays ever look the same

Every single tray ends up looking different, and that’s part of the magic.

Some kids love making rainbow stripes, others go for swirling color tornadoes, and some want 10x the glitter and call it a day (we respect that energy).

This unpredictability makes it a repeat favorite because you’ll never get bored of the results.

✨ Don’t miss these other baking soda and vinegar trays:

An overhead view of materials on a purple surface, including a bowl of baking soda, liquid watercolor bottles, a bowl of glitter, a jar of vinegar, and a small pipette, all neatly arranged in a pink tray.

Materials

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Baking soda is being poured from a white bowl into a pink tray, surrounded by bottles of watercolor paint, a jar of vinegar, and a bowl of glitter, at the beginning stage of a rainbow unicorn glitter experiment setup.

How to make a rainbow unicorn glitter experiment

  1. Spread a thin layer of baking soda into the bottom of your tray.
  2. Sprinkle glitter and drops of liquid watercolor or food coloring on the baking soda.
  3. Cover the glitter/colorful layer with more baking soda (it’s totally fine if some color peeks through).
  4. Provide your little scientists with eyedroppers and a cup of vinegar.
  5. Invite them to drop the vinegar onto the baking soda and watch the unicorn science magic happen.
A close-up of a hand holding an open bottle of red liquid watercolor above a pink tray filled with baking soda, glitter, and drops of other watercolors, as part of a rainbow unicorn glitter experiment, with additional bottles and a clear jar of vinegar visible in the background.

Ideas to sprinkle more unicorn magic

  • Challenge kids to make color predictions: What happens when the blue and red drops mix?
  • Add mini plastic unicorns or rainbow erasers into the tray for surprise discoveries as the fizz reveals them.
  • Add this to your unicorn birthday party for a hands-on station that keeps kids totally engaged.
  • Mix in biodegradable confetti for an eco-friendly twist on the sparkle.
  • You can swap out the glitter for gems for a less-messy but still amazing twist.
  • Want even more fizz? Add a squirt of dish soap on top of the baking soda.
A small glass bowl of fine silver and gold glitter is held in one hand above a tray, with bottles of liquid watercolor slightly blurred in the background on a purple table.

Rainbow unicorn glitter experiment: What to do when done

Let the tray sit and dry overnight to create a sparkly unicorn art slab. Once dry, toss in the garbage.

Cleaning up a baking soda and vinegar tray once it’s dry is 100x easier than when it’s gooey and wet.

An active fizzy reaction fills a pink tray with layers of purple and pink bubbles and shimmering gold glitter, capturing the colorful and textured result of a rainbow unicorn glitter experiment.

Unicorn party idea turned science lab

Planning a unicorn birthday party?

This activity will be a hit!

This rainbow unicorn glitter experiment turns your party table into a science station—complete with color explosions and bubbly magic.

It’s the kind of activity that kids will talk about long after the party ends.

And let’s be honest—adults won’t be able to resist jumping in either.

A hand sprinkles more baking soda over a tray already containing hidden droplets of color and glitter, with three bottles of Color Splash liquid watercolor and a mason jar of vinegar set behind it on a purple surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use food coloring instead of liquid watercolors?

Yes! Food coloring works great! Either is perfect.

How much baking soda do I need?

Start with about 1 cup and add more as needed.

Can I save the experiment for later?

Ooh, this is a great question! This can be prepped ahead of time and used whenever you’re ready.

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