Celebrate Dad: 13 Father’s Day Activities
Sleeping in may be a great gift for our tireless fathers, but this year’s list of Father’s Day fun will have him leaping out of bed ready and roaring to go. From street festivals and beer gardens to baseball and toy trains, we’ve got a great list of to-do’s for your family’s number one hero: Dad. Read on for some of the Bay Area’s top Father’s Day activities.
Photo credit: Dadblunders via Flickr creative commons
San Francisco
SF Giants vs. Colorado Rockies
Take Dad out to the ballgame! Giants vs. the Rockies on Father’s Day means the whole family can hang out with Dad and cheer on our favorite home team. Plus it’s day game which is always great for families, and the first 20,000 fans will score him an SF Giants necktie.
Date: Sun., June 16th,
Time: 1:05 p.m.
Cost: $38.75 – $200.25
AT&T Park
24 Willie Mays Plaza
San Francisco, Ca 94107
Online: sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com
Photo credit: GerryT via Flickr Creative Commons
The 60th Annual North Beach Festival
If the way to your man’s heart is his through his stomach, this festival will fit the bill. Dad can eat and drink his way through Little Italy’s North Beach Festival, with gourmet food booths and multiple beer gardens. Kids will love their own chalk art drawing section, street painting, two stages of entertainment, arts and crafts booths, and the blessing of the animals.
Date: Sat. & Sun., June 14 and 15
Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
North Beach Historic District
San Francisco, Ca 94133
Online: sresproudctions.com/north_beach_festival.html
Photo credit: Steven Restivo Events
Father’s Day BikeAbout at the SF Zoo
Speaking of animals, take Dad on an adventure this Father’s Day with a docent-led bike tour of the SF Zoo. Not only do you get to cruise around the zoo before it opens to the general public, the early morning is a time when the animals are active so you’ll likely see some tiger stretches and monkeys swinging! Advance registration required.
Date: Sun., June 15
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Cost: $25, members; $30 non-members (per bike)
SF Zoo
1 Zoo Rd.
San Francisco, Ca 94132
Online: sfzoo.org
East Bay
Dads and Jazz at the Historic Dunsmuir-Hellman Estate
Dad can put one of those annual neckties to good use at this swanky jazz concert located on a beautiful, historic estate. Be sure and tour the mansion after the concert, and take in the beautiful grounds. This event encourages families with father figures of all kinds—stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, big brothers—so book your spot and enjoy a day with dad. Seating provided, and food and drinks for sale.
Date: Sun., June 15
Time: 2-6 p.m.
Cost: $20/adults; $10/children 10 and under
Dunsmuir Hellman Estate
2960 Peralta Oaks Court
Oakland, Ca 94605
Online: dunsmuir-hellman.com/events
Photo courtesy Dunsmuir Hellman Estate
Father’s Day Weekend at Playland Not-at-the-Beach
Head with Dad into Pinball Alley for his special day where he can play all the pinball he wants. Let him win at skee-ball, arcade games or Fascination or treat him to peeks in the Penny Arcade. Dad not only gets $2 dollars off admission this weekend, he can bring in the worst neck tie he has and win prizes!
Date: Sat. & Sun., June 14 and 15
Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cost: $15/adult; $10/child
Playland Not-at-the-Beach
10979 San Pablo Ave.
El Cerrito, Ca 94530
Online: playland-not-at-the-beach.org
Eats, Beats, and Brews
Head to downtown Berkeley for a new summer block party! Take dad to enjoy live music, food from around the world, and an outdoor beer garden from Drakes Brewing. Street vendors and a no-car zone make it a happy, hopping place for the whole family. Plus it’s right across the street from the Downtown Berkeley BART so it’s easy to arrive by public transit.
Date: Sun., June 15
Time: 12-6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Downtown Berkeley
Center Street between Shattuck Ave. and Oxford St.
Berkeley, Ca 94704
Online: downtownberkeley.com/eats-beats-brews
Photo credit: Chris Riley courtesy the Norcal Pirate Festival
Northern California Pirate Festival
Let Dad be captain for the day, at the Northern California Pirate Festival. Dress in your scallywagging best and ship off to enjoy pirate encampments, gourmet food, four stages of continuous entertainment and a special kid’s area complete with a School of Piracy and a 30 ft. slide.
Date: June 14-15
Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: $10/general admission; free for children 11 and under
Vallejo Waterfront Park
298 Mare Island Way
Vallejo, Ca 94590
Online: norcalpiratefestival.com
South Bay/Peninsula
Palo Alto World Music Day
Take dad on a trip around the world without leaving the South Bay. Check out musical acts and performers from across genres and around the world at the 6th Annual Palo Alto World Music Day. University Avenue and King Plaza are filled with the sounds of jazz, blues, classical, pop, rock, klezmer, Greek, Balkan, Indian, World Music, choral, dance, and more.
Date: Sun., June 15
Time: 3 – 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
King Plaza
250 Hamilton Ave.
Palo Alto, Ca 94301
Online: pamusicday.org
Historic Transportation Day at History Park
Let Dad bring out his inner child for this fun day at San Jose’s History Park. Take a ride on a historic trolley and an antique Horse Car, pump a railroad car by hand, and take part in a pony-express really around the plaza. Play with a steam engine and toy train exhibit, and then hop in the covered wagon perfect for photo ops. There will be arts and crafts for the kiddos, live music, lots of demos including a printing press, and delicious eats from Sonia’s Hot Dogs and O’Brien’s Candy Store & Ice Cream Parlor. And since activities begin at noon, Dad can even sleep in!
Date: Sun., June 15
Time: 12 – 4 p.m.
Cost: $5; free for HSJ members and children 2 and under
History Park
1650 Senter Rd. between Phelan & Keyes
San Jose, Ca 95112
Online: historysanjose.org/events
Father’s Day Overnight Camp at Gilroy Gardens
Grab your tent and sleeping bags and drive down to Gilroy Gardens for an overnight camp with Dad. Arrive at the Gardens Saturday afternoon, enjoy dinner in the picnic grove, stroll the grounds in the evening, and then spend the next day romping around the park. Price includes three meals (Saturday dinner and breakfast and lunch on Sunday) and unlimited soft drinks and water, a docent tour and education activities on Sunday morning, and access to the theme park. Win!
Date: Sat., June 14 and Sun. June 15
Time: 4 p.m. Sat. until 4 p.m. Sun.
Cost: $50/person; $40/pass holders
Gilroy Gardens
3050 Hecker Pass Rd.
Gilroy, Ca 95020
Online: gilroygardens.org/upcoming-events
Marin County
Mountain Play
Take Dad to the top of Mt. Tam and wind up in the South Pacific! Mountain Play Association’s 101st season presents the lively musical South Pacific. Father’s Day is themed Luau Day so get him a Hawaiian print shirt and plan your day (be sure and check out our guide here) With pre-show entertainment by Island Vibes Dance Group & Ka Ehu Kai Hawaiian Band, a picnic contest with local gourmand Anna Haight as judge, and the daily Hawaiian Shirt contests, plus food, drink, and a kids area, this will make for a grand day out Dad won’t forget!
Date: Sun., June 15
Time: 2 p.m. (but go early!)
Cost: $20-$60/ticket; children 3 and under are free
The Cushing Memorial Amphitheater
801 Panoramic Hwy.
Mill Valley, Ca 94941
Online: mountainplay.org
Photo credit: Ed Smith
Father’s Day BBQ at Marin Country Mart
Beers and BBQ? Need we say more? Treat dad to a good ol’ fashioned cookout at the Marin Country Mart, where they’re serving up the perfect storm of summer foods. Dads can chomp on Belcampo Meat Co’s grass fed burgers and steaks along with micro brews form Marin Brewing Company while the kiddos enjoy pony rides, face painting, arts and crafts and more
Date: Sat., June 14
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Marin Country Mart
2257 Larkspur Landing Cir.
Larkspur, CA 94939
Online: marincountrymart.com
Photo credit: Donjd2 via Flickr Creative Commons
Father’s Day Weekend Fishing Derby
Tell Dad to grab his fishing pole and then head over to Paradise Beach Park for a fishing contest. Park rangers will help judge and award prizes for the first fish, the biggest fish, and the heaviest fish. There will be a limited number of fishing poles and bait provided on a first-come, first-served basis but if you have your own pole you can bring that. If you want to fish from the shore you’ll need to get a valid California fishing license but if you fish from the pier, no license required.
Date: Sat., June 14
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: Free
Paradise Beach Park
3450 Paradise Drive
Tiburon, Ca 94920
Online: marincountyparks.org
What are you planning on doing with dear old Dad for Father’s Day? Let us know your Father’s Day activities in the comments below!
— Amber Guetebier
