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New Yorkers love a quirky sleepover spot—remember when the American Museum of Natural History started letting kids crash under the dinosaurs? Now, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is leaning into the trend with “Operation Slumber,” an overnight adventure on the legendary aircraft carrier docked at Pier 86. And this year, things launch with a Halloween twist.
On Saturday, October 4, the hangar deck turns into the city’s most unusual campsite as kids ages 5–17 roll out their sleeping bags between vintage jets. The evening kicks off in full spooky spirit: a costume contest (apple cider and doughnuts included), flashlight-guided tours of the flight deck, simulator rides in the XD Experience and access to a brand-new game room before lights out.
Parents can breathe easy—this isn’t just a gimmick. The overnight includes dinner, snacks and breakfast; hands-on activities like slime-making, robotics and rain gutter regattas (bring your own mini boat); and an Intrepid patch for each participant. Plus, every guest scores a 60-day return pass to see the ship in daylight. Tickets for Operation Slumber start at $99 per person ($89 for members), with the Halloween kickoff priced at $130.
The Halloween edition also doubles as a good deed: Groups are encouraged to bring canned goods for donation, with the most generous teams recognized during the program. Later in the season, other sleepovers will collect coats or more nonperishables, depending on the month.
And if you can’t make the October kickoff, the Intrepid has plenty more on deck. Additional dates run through November and December, continuing into the spring, with options to upgrade the experience: think early entry, Growler submarine tours and even the chance to stay overnight in the Great Hall overlooking the Hudson.
This is no ordinary night at the museum. It’s part slumber party, part history lesson, part science lab—an overnight that turns a storied World War II aircraft carrier into one giant playground. Just don’t forget your sleeping bag.