It might feel like we just celebrated Mother’s Day, but it’s already time to start thinking about how to celebrate the dads and father figures in our lives for Father’s Day this year. We love celebrating dads by getting them the perfect Father’s Day gift, but sometimes thinking of fun, new activities to do as a family can be just as memorable, if also difficult to plan.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with sticking to your usual festivities—brunch or a family dinner, for example—but if you’re looking to change it up this year, we have a few ideas for you. Read on for 35 family-friendly things to do this Father’s Day that you haven’t already thought of.
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Outdoor Father’s Day Activities
1. Go fishing
If the dad in your life is the outdoorsy type, spend time with him doing one of his favorite outdoor activities, like fishing! We have no doubt he’ll love showing the family how to have a successful day out on the water.
2. Put together a scavenger hunt
Put dad to work in the most fun way possible by creating a scavenger hunt for him and the kiddos to tackle. Head to your local park or even the backyard and get creative with the things for them to find. You could even take it up a notch by hiding his Father’s Day gift and leaving him clues to find it.
3. Create a backyard water park
The hot June days are the perfect time to set up a backyard water park for the whole family to have a day of fun in the sun—just don’t forget to wear sun protective clothing and/or sunscreen. Purchase an ultra-fun splash pad for hours of entertainment!
4. Go mini golfing
One of our favorite family-friendly activities that allows us to get outside together is mini golfing. Everyone will have fun working on their golf game and engaging in a friendly competition.
5. Go to the beach
Whether you have an ocean, lake, or even river near you, a day spent near water is never a bad idea. Head to the beach to soak up the sun, splash in the water, and build sandal castles and plenty of memories.
6. Plan a family game day
There’s nothing like a little family-friendly competition to celebrate dad on Father’s Day. Whether you’re spending the day with immediate family only or extended family too, you can set up a tournament-style challenge to crown one person or team as champion. Consider fun family games like corn hole, bocce ball, or giant Jenga!
7. Take a trip to the zoo
For an exciting and memorable Father’s Day for everyone, take a trip to the zoo. Kids of all ages will enjoy spending time seeing and learning about different animals. Many zoos offer special Father’s Day activities or celebrations, so check the website in advance to see what fun events your family might want to join in on.
8. Go camping
If you really want to go unplugged for awhile, head to the great outdoors on a camping trip. Whether you tent it or rent a cabin, a quiet weekend in the woods around a campfire is a great way for the whole family to reconnect.
9. Go to an amusement park or fair
Help dad feel like a kid again by taking him to an amusement park or to the local fair. Play games, go on rides, and eat all of the funnel cakes and corn dogs his heart desires.
10. Rent a boat
Take advantage of the summer sun by getting out on the water. Find your nearest body of water and rent a boat for the day. Pack snacks, water toys, and plenty of sun screen for an unplugged and exciting day.
11. Go zip-lining
For an afternoon of fun, take in the warm June weather by catching some speed on a zip-line. Everyone will have so much fun zipping through the skies, and will want to go again and again.
12. Take a hot air balloon ride
Speaking of hitting the skies, make your Father’s Day festivities extra adventurous by reaching new heights. A hot air balloon ride is sure to be an exciting experience for everyone—and may even be a check off of his bucket list.
13. Head to an air show
Help him day dream about living out Top Gun with a trip to a local air show. He may not be the one soaring through the sky, but it’s still a pretty cool experience nonetheless!
Creative Father’s Day Activities
14. Start a family scrapbook
While we contemplate purchasing extra photo storage on our phones again, consider another fun way to store memories with a good old-fashioned scrapbook. Print photos at your local convenience store, head to a craft store for fun paper and stickers, and get crafty together.
15. Build something together
If he’s more of a handyman, put his skills to the test. He’s sure to love teaching those he’s closest to something he loves. Build something simple like a birdhouse or something as intricate as a playhouse and display it proudly.
16. Do a family art project
For the creative types, a family art project is the perfect way to spend time together and even make a gift for dad in the process. Go to your local craft store and pick up a big white canvas for the whole family to contribute to or individual canvases for each person to paint their own masterpiece. Don’t forget to grab some paint and brushes, and enjoy a day of fun crafts and activities.
17. Make and bury a time capsule
Just like we did back in school! Find an old crayon box or something similar and fill it with some items that represent this time in your lives. Be sure to write a few words to remember the day before burying it somewhere you can find in the future.
18. Record a family interview with dad
Dad might be the one recording all the home movies in your household, so why not turn the camera on him instead this Father’s Day? Set up a phone or camcorder and have your kiddos ask dad questions about his childhood, family traditions, and favorite memories. Compile all the clips together into a special memento the whole family is sure to cherish!
Food and Cooking Father’s Day Activities
19. Create the perfect Father’s Day dinner
For this one, you can either make all of dad’s favorite family-friendly foods, grab takeout, or head out to eat. Pick up his favorite appetizer from one restaurant, a meal from another, and dessert from another, or make it a family excursion by heading to all of his favorite places.
20. Take a cooking class together
Learn something new, eat a delicious meal, and spend quality time together all at the same time? Sign us up! Doing a family cooking class is a unique way to get out of the house and celebrate Father’s Day. Plus, you all might learn a new skill you can use for your next family dinner.
21. Host friends and family
Special occasions like Father’s Day are the perfect opportunity to get together with friends and family. If you’ve got the space, have those closest to dad over for a backyard BBQ. Enjoy tasty grilled food, backyard games, and plenty of stories.
22. Have a baking competition
Break off into a couple of teams and each bake one of dad’s favorite treats. Create a scoring system to determine the ‘winner’ before indulging in the tasty treats together.
23. Volunteer at a local food bank
Give back to your local community this June by volunteering as a family at a food bank. Many centers have kid-friendly ways to get involved, like helping to sort through food donations, packing grocery bags, or serving meals to those in need. This feel-good activitiy might just be your family’s new favorite holiday tradition.
Budget-Friendly Father’s Day Activites
24. Plan a movie night
For a more relaxed Father’s Day celebration, opt for a movie night complete with popcorn, snacks, and dad’s favorite nostalgic movies or movies all about dads. For an extra-special touch, you could even gift dad an at-home movie projector screen, perfect for setting up somewhere fun and different, whether it’s outdoors or indoors. And, if you don’t already have a Disney+ subscription, get one—you won’t regret it!
25. Throw an at-home dance party
Throw on everyone’s favorite tunes and bust a move! We can’t think of a better way to put a smile on dad’s face and have the whole family having fun.
26. Try a family workout
Fitness fanatics will love nothing more than sharing in their favorite activity with their family. Whether it’s a day at the gym, a hike, or an at home yoga flow, exercising together doesn’t have to expensive and is a great bonding opportunity. Work up a sweat before treating yourself to a treat like frozen yogurt.
27. Host a family car wash
While it may not be the most glamorous thing to do, chances are getting a car wash is on his to-do list. Make an event out of it by washing all of the family cars together—and making a mess out of yourselves along the way!
28. Go on a family bike ride
Explore a new route on a family bike ride complete with a pit-stop picnic along the way. This is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise and create family memories, all rolled into one easy (and budget-friendly) activity!
29. Give dad a ‘Yes Day’
You’ve probably heard of a “Yes Day” for kids where the littles in the family get to do whatever they want (within reason, of course) and the parents must agree. So why not take this carefree concept and apply it to dad’s special day this year? Set a budget and some realistic parameters and let dad’s imagination run wild when it comes to planning meals, activities, and family bonding moments for the day. Just be sure to plan for a Mother’s Day “Yes Day” for mama next year, too. 😉
Unique Father’s Day Activities
30. Rent an extra-special vehicle
Dads who are into cars will love this idea. There are companies like Turo, Enterprise, and local rental services that allow you to rent luxury vehicles for a certain number of hours or the whole day—usually, at a decent price. Surprise him with the car and head out on the road as a family for the day.
31. Go to an escape room
For a Father’s Day to remember, put your thinking caps on and head to your local escape room. Everyone will love trying to solve the riddles and seeing how quickly they can make their way out.
32. Go see live music
Father’s Day conveniently lands in the summer months, meaning we can take advantage of the warm weather. Many local venues host live music during the summer. Do a quick Facebook event search to find the perfect way to celebrate.
33. Go to a museum
Play tourist in your own town by checking out a local museum. Whether dad prefers history, art, or something more specific, it’s sure to be a special day no matter where you end up.
34. Attend a car show
Have a guy in your life who loves talking all things horsepower? Indulge in his passion on his special day by heading to a local car show. He’ll light up explaining to you all the intricate parts of classic cars.
35. Go to a sporting event
If dad’s favorite sports team is having a game on or around Father’s Day, surprise him with tickets for the family! Spend the day helping him cheer on his team and munching on tasty stadium food.
Father’s Day Activities FAQs
What are some free Father’s Day activities?
There are plenty of Father’s Day activities you can do for free! At home, you can try movie nights, dance parties, backyard camping, or just baking or cooking something fun with your little ones. Free, out of the house activities, like going to the park or having a picnic, can make a normal day feel special.
What can you do for Father’s Day besides give gifts?
Experiences like fishing, camping, sporting events, and family game days can create lasting memories and often mean just as much (if not more) as a thoughtful gift! Consider what the dads in your life like to do in their free time and plan their gift or experience around that.
What are good Father’s Day activities for babies and toddlers?
Zoo visits, scavenger hunts, movie nights, and at-home activities like crafting and baking are great for babies, toddlers, and little kids.
What are good Father’s Day activities for older kids and teens?
For older kids, try more active, hands-on experiences like zip-lining, museum visits, sporting events, or family camping trips. Often, these experiences are extra meaningful for both child and parent to experience alongside their family.
Jaclyn Voran, Contributing Writer
Jaclyn joined The Everymom team as a Contributing Writer in 2020. She brings a strong editorial background as a freelance writer, including being published in The Atlantic. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Kansas.
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Assistant
As an Editorial Assistant, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented.
