An augmented reality (AR) system for providing an AR experience to a user of an AR venue includes a hardware processor, a memory, a light detector, a display, and an AR application stored in the memory. The hardware processor can execute the AR application to provide a virtual environment corresponding to the AR venue on the display, and to detect a light event resulting from interaction of an infrared (IR) light produced by an AR accessory utilized by the user with a surface within the AR venue. The hardware processor can further execute the AR application to identify a location of the light event within the AR venue, determine whether the location of the light event is within an activation zone of the AR venue, and render a visual effect corresponding to the light event on the display if the location is within the activation zone.