10 ways to celebrate Father’s Day this year
Photo by: Leigh in Johannesburg
Father’s Day falls on the first day of summer this year, making it a day to celebrate the fathers in our lives and the start of a new season...perhaps Dad’s favorite season!
Sure, things are a little different this year. We may not be able to take those dads to all the places we’d like or even to swoop in for a big bear hug, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate them like crazy with the things they love. Here are just some ideas!
Photo by: Susanna in Playa del Carmen
Get out in the sunshine
Because Father’s Day coincides with the first day of summer, it’s even more of a reason to get the fathers in our lives out into the sunshine. If you have to social-distance, there’s all kinds of great options in the outdoors depending on what he loves doing: hiking, bicycling, fishing, even bird-watching. And if keeping your distance isn’t an issue, how about some games in the yard, a wrestling match with the kids or grandkids, or a backyard campout, accompanied by favorite outdoor foods?
Attend a virtual summer concert
Summer is also a time for concerts, and a lot of dads love their music and music festivals. While physical events may be on hold this year, music most definitely is not! There are countless live stream concerts and music festivals available as organizers and venues keep everyone at home entertained. Do the footwork and find out what music Dad loves and what event he would have loved to attend. Then set him up in a lawn chair with headphones and a cold drink and he’ll feel like he has a front row ticket. And if he’s not on Tidal or Spotify yet, now’s the time for a subscription!
Take a flight...the drinkable kind!
So most airplanes may be grounded this Father’s Day but that doesn’t mean there aren’t flights available. By “flights” we mean rows of glasses filled with Dad’s favorite spirits! Is he a beer fan? Or is it wine, rum, or something else? Whatever his preference, arrange a personal tasting for him. Many wineries and breweries have created custom experiences that can be delivered right to his door. Or have fun going out and creating that special tasting for him yourself. Either way, you’ll be celebrating Dad and supporting local wineries, breweries, taprooms, and importers. Dad will literally be glowing!
Feast like a king
Some fathers love brunch, some a big barbecue, and some a pizza party. Some love doing the cooking themselves and some love being treated. The key takeaway here: fathers love a feast, so this year give him one fit for a king. Take him out for an al fresco experience. Have his favorite meal, from his favorite restaurant delivered to his door with all the trimmings. And if he likes to be the king of the kitchen, get him a professional apron, a new glossy cookbook, and all the ingredients needed for that special dish he’s been dying to perfect, whether chicken mole, beef bourguignon or prawns vindaloo! Again this Father’s Day offers more opportunities to support local businesses, whether you go to a local market and buy all the ingredients yourself or order out.
Hit the gym...at home!
After feasting (and let’s be honest, the last couple months of quarantine eating!), most fathers are ready to hit the gym and get those muscles and endorphins going. If he’s already been working out at home, consider getting him a new piece of equipment to expand his home gym. If he’s tired of the same ol’ routine he’s been doing the past few months, book him a personal training session. And for the most fun of all, pull up one of the many online workouts available and do a Father’s Day workout together!
Take him to a virtual game
It’s been tough on many of us, not just fathers, that live sports are on hold. But Dad needn’t go without his favorite teams and players this summer. Just like the music industry, many sports organizations are offering limited, complementary access and gamepasses to past games and seasons, from the NFL to the NHL to Formula 1 racing. Get him set up in front of the screen, round up his favorite game day snacks, then let him cheer his way through Father’s Day, reliving epic sporting events.
Celebrate his interests
If sports aren’t Dad’s thing, chances are you know what will light up his face. And as with any celebration, it’s all about the person you’re celebrating. So what does he love? What’s he missing lately? What could he use a little more of? For some fathers, it might be that monthly poker night with friends. Or heading out to see the summer’s blockbuster movies. Or going to a book reading by a favorite author. Again, with a little creativity, planning, and research, Dad can still enjoy his interests this year. Get him a poker Masterclass, buy him a couple new releases or movies-in-theater through Amazon, or reserve him a spot and signed book at his favorite author’s next virtual appearance.
Get a project done
Fathers tend to have long lists of projects, some by choice and some not. If the father in your life loves a project and social-distancing isn’t an issue, then spend his special day working on that favorite project with him. Together you can woodwork in his shop, wrench on his motorcycle in the garage, or get that ship in the bottle at the kitchen table. He’ll love the time spent together doing what he loves best. And if Dad is not such a fan of projects, give him the ultimate gift...the day off while someone else gets the project done! Either do it for him, or hire someone who will happily take care of whatever house project Dad’s been dreading.
Send him on a virtual vacation
How we wish we could take the fathers in our lives on a much needed vacation right now! But while we may need to stick closer to home than we’d like, the good news is that we can still take him on a virtual vacation! If you’re spending time together, make it a real event. Get some local music playing, order some takeout to go with the location, and then have fun virtually visiting museums, walking the streets, and immersing yourselves in his dream destination. If you’re spending the day apart, have food delivered and send him a curated list of all the sites, including an itinerary, that will take him away on his special day.
Spend time together
Really what fathers want most of all is to spend time with the people they love. Whatever fun way you choose to celebrate the fathers in your life this year, make sure it includes quality time together, whether in-person or via Zoom, FaceTime, or any of the amazing technology that’s keeping us all connected these days. And remember that celebrations are also about making and capturing memories. So whether you’re seeing Dad IRL or virtually, we have just the right photo package available. Our amazing local photographers can do everything from a vintage-style, virtual photoshoot to a safe, contactless photoshoot. Either way, Dad will have photos to cherish for years to come.
