27 Father’s Day Activities That Appeal to Every Kind of Dad
For the last two years, you had to get creative with your Father’s Day celebrations due to the pandemic, but with restrictions loosening up, you have the opportunity to (safely) go all out. Whether that’s planning a day with the bros for him and his friends, game night with the grandkids or a romantic trip with just you and your hubby, make your favorite guy feel extra special with one of these 27 Father’s Day activities.
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1. Throw a themed party
This very well may be the first Father’s Day in two years where you’re able to have people over, so why not take advantage of the moment? Bonus points if you can give it a theme based on one of his favorite things—or something he’s known for, like asking everyone to show up wearing the loud golf polos he can’t resist or hosting a yacht rock-themed bash for the diehard Steely Dan fan. Just make sure everyone in attendance is vaxed and/or has tested negative for COVID.
2. Host a game night
He taught you all his poker, Uno and Monopoly tricks, now it’s time to literally beat him at his own game. Odds are the student won’t become the master when it comes to card and board games with Pa, but you’ll have a ton of fun trying to out weasel him, that’s for sure.
3. Go back in time
Is your dad a history buff? Take him to a local museum or bring the past to you with a visit to one of these virtual museums. Check out artworks and sculptures that date as far back as the 8th century at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Ishtar Gate of Babylon at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin or a stroll through the halls of the Palace of Versailles in France...all from the comfort of his favorite recliner.
4. Pack a picnic
Fix up a lunch of his favorite foods (hello, roast beef on rye) and enjoy a picnic outside in your local park, or stay closer to home and eat al fresco in the garden or the front yard.
5. Have a movie night
Let Dad pick the film (even if it’s some obscure historical documentary you have no interest in). Let him choose the snacks, too. Need a movie suggestion or two? Here are the 75 best family movies of all time.
6. Take a cooking class
He makes the world’s best burgers, but that doesn’t mean he can’t pick up a few new tricks. Masterclass offers online classes featuring some of the world's greatest chefs like Gordon Ramsey, Thomas Keller and Alice Waters.
7. Make him breakfast in bed
Waffle breakfast sandwich with chorizo. Maple candied bacon. Pizza-dough cinnamon rolls. All this and more in our roundup of the 62 best breakfast recipes.
8. Share some memories
Make a greatest hits video of your family over the years and get everyone seated to watch it together. Make sure to play it on the big screen so everyone can see exactly how nervous you were at graduation. Cue the waterworks.
9. Sharpen your DIY skills
He’s the first person you call when you have to figure out how to hang up a picture frame. So why not let him teach you some skills? Pick a project you guys can work on together (like a birdhouse) and spend the day building your masterpiece.
10. Work out together
Keep your dad in tip-top shape by cueing up a HIIT class on YouTube and getting a sweat on together. (Or if that’s too much for him, try to get him to join you in your Sunday night vinyasa class.)
11. Watch his favorite musician
You couldn’t take him to a concert these last two years, but now you can. Snag some tix to his favorite band. Stock up on the masks and sanitizer and have a music-filled night with your Pa like the good ole days.
12. Go Golfing
This 9-by-3-foot putting green boasts more than 8,000 five-star reviews. Let him show off his stroke while you hone your skills. Alternatively, you can take him to a nearby Top Golf where you can also grab some bites and drinks.
13. Fire up the grill
Let Dad try out those new barbecue tools that you just gifted him and offer up these yummy BBQ side recipes to boot.
14. Play a video game together
Even if he isn’t the most technologically-savvy, we bet he can get on board with Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.
15. Plan a spa day
He’d never admit it, but dads need some pampering, too. If a pedicure is too much for him, at least see if he'll do a face mask with you while watching his favorite show.
16. Put on a Performance
This one can go one of two ways—you and your siblings either recreate the play you painstakingly wrote, starred and directed in the summer of 1999 or have your kids put on a performance for grandpa. Either way, there's bound to be plenty of laughs. Just don't forget to film the event.
17. Host a Sports Tournament
He’s always bragging about what a great hooper he was back in his heyday so why not challenge that legendary athleticism? Go to the park or plan something in your backyard for a day of fun sporting activities. Think basketball (this portable hoop should help with that), bocce ball, flag football, croquet and even bowling. Raise the stakes by allocating prizes—loser has to take out the garbage for the week or mow the lawn for the month.
18. Curate a playlist
Long before you were old enough to hit up karaoke bars, Dad was your first singing partner. Curate a playlist full of your favorite hits from back in the day and take a nice car ride like the old times. Songs like Luther Vandross’ “Dance with My Father,” and Bruce Springsteen’s “My Father’s House” are sure to bring tears to his eyes.
19. Take him on an online shopping spree
You used to do damage to his credit card and now it’s his turn. Does he need to update his toolkit? Some new winter boots? A nice spring coat? Or maybe he just wants to splurge your dollars on a fancy leaf blower. Either way, let him go crazy (but not too crazy) with your money for a change. Dads don’t ask for much, so it’s always nice when the bill is on you. (Psst: Nudge him toward this list of 88 best gifts for dad if he doesn’t know where to start.)
20. Plan a zoom party
Hey, mamas are not the only ones who need some time with their pals to catch up. Plan a virtual Zoom party for your father and some of his favorite guys who can’t make it in person—brothers, co-workers, even that one friend from across the pond he hasn’t seen in a while.
21. Host a beer tasting
Call up breweries nearby and see if they’re able to host a small party for your dad and a few members in your pod. If not, bring the beers to you by ordering some craft ales from your neighborhood liquor store and let the sampling begin. (And don't forget the finger foods.)
22. Enjoy the Great Outdoors
If you and your dad always bonded over camping trips or park visits, surprise him with an exciting day enjoying the great outdoors. You can either hit up a longtime favorite or surprise him with a new location. ’Tis the season for hiking, fishing and cycling, after all.
23. Get sporty
Even if the dad in your life isn’t a hardcore sports fan, catching a random game can be a fun way to connect. Look for local basketball and soccer games, golf tournaments or horse races—all are pretty common in June. If you’re really not into tagging along, you can always buy tickets and coordinate with his friends, then catch up afterward.
24. Plan a guy’s day
Speaking of spending time with the fellas, if moms out there are dying for some alone time, we can only imagine dads feel the same. So why not scoop the kids for a day, order his favorite foods and let your love hang out with people who can string full sentences together for an afternoon? Or if he just wants some alone time, let him spend the day by himself too.
25. Take a trip
Experience gifts are all the rage right now, so get in on the travel boom and take your favorite guy on a long weekend. Plan a daddy-daughter excursion to a dude ranch somewhere in middle America, or research trips within three hours of home for a one-tank-of-gas-or-less adventure. You may find the car ride makes for some of the best conversations you’ve had in years.
26. Go birdwatching
Birdwatching became a favorite pastime in the pandemic, but that doesn't mean you still can't partake. Take your favorite guy to a serene spot in the park and see what kinds of sky creatures you may run into. This is also a great opportunity to just check in, fill him in on everything that's going on with you and see how he's doing as well.
27. Go on a dessert date
You and your Pa's sweet teeth are the stuff of family legend, so why not fully lean in and go on a dessert adventure with the guy? You can spend the day sampling local dessert bars or hit up some old favorites. If that doesn't sound too appealing, you and your favorite guy can always spend the day baking some sweet treats that you know you'll enjoy. Dessert nachos anyone?
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