So your sailor is deployed and the days, weeks and months couldn’t be any slower. And while Homecoming is so far out of reach (if you even have a prospective date yet), another big celebration might just be around the corner: Halfway Night! As its name suggests, Halfway Night marks the halfway point of deployment and is a time-honored tradition for submariners and their families back home.
On the boat, the crew celebrates in their own unique ways including opening Halfway Boxes (more on that here). And back home, the families and significant others celebrate with a special event or outing. Usually organized and funded by the Family Readiness Group (FRG), Halfway Night could look like a fancy dinner or night on the town. Many commands also celebrate with secondary, family-friendly Halfway parties, like beach days or special BBQs.
We asked our followers to share their best Halfway Night outing ideas, and really these are any outing ideas – here’s some inspiration to get you started:
Adults-Only Halfway Night Ideas:
- Smash or Rage Room (The Destruction Room in Virginia Beach, Smash Avenue at Foxwoods Casino, Smash Lab on Oahu)
- Fun Fiesta Night
- Trashy Bingo
- Escape Room (Kitsap Great Escape in Silverdale, Mystified Escape Room in Mystic)
- Fancy Dinner
- Vision Board Party
- Wine and Workshop Night (Board & Brush in Mystic, Board & Brush in Norfolk, AR Workshop near Bangor)
- Paint and Sip (Pinot’s Palette in Norfolk, Paint Parties by Beth near Bangor, Paint and Sip Honolulu)
- Art Class (Glass making at Perry Glass Studio in Norfolk, Pinch Pottery in San Diego, Clay Café in Honolulu )
- Axe Throwing (Tribal Axe in Virginia Beach, Axe Throw San Diego, Unleashed Camden in Kingsland)
- Cooking Class (Hana Kitchens in Honolulu, Kitch in Mystic)
- Little Black Dress Night at the Casino (Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun near Groton)
- Dinner Cruise (Argosy Cruises in Seattle, City Cruises in Norfolk, Amelia River Cruises near Kings Bay)
- Pedal Pub Crawls (Trolley Pub Norfolk, Party Bike San Diego, Pedal Pub Jax)
- Murder Mystery Dinner
- Wine Tasting
- Make-Up Class
- Piano Bar (Keys on Main in Seattle)
- Comedy Club (Tacoma Comedy Club near Bangor, Funny Bone Club in Virginia Beach)
- Picnic at the Farm (Sweet Hill Farm near Groton)
Family-Friendly Halfway Party Ideas
- Beach Day
- Pool or Bowling Party (on base)
- Ropes Course (Adventure Park in Virginia Beach, TreeTrails Adventures near Groton)
- Amusement Park Day (Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, LEGOLAND near San Diego)
- Park or Field Day (rentals from MWR)
- Teddy Bear Picnic for Kids
- Pizza Party
- Outdoor BBQ
What has your boat done for Halfway Night? Comment below and tell us!