Another neck tie or a pirate festival? A pair of socks or a beer cruise on the Bay? If you want to really wow the dad in your life, take a look at our list of 16 incredible adventures to embark on this Father’s Day weekend. From fishing to music festivals, there’s not a sock or a tie in sight.
San Francisco
Off the Grid Picnic in the Presidio
Unfold your blanket for Father’s Day and enjoy games, arts and crafts for kids and even an e-bike demo. Over 30 food trucks will be in attendance, offering up tasty food cart nibbles. There are yoga classes and cool staff-led, nature-based arts and crafts activities featuring materials found at the Presidio, too. Riding your bike? There is free bike valet!
Date/Time: Sun., June 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m
Cost: Free
Main Post Lawn
Lincoln Blvd. and Anza St.
San Francisco, Ca 94129
Online: offthegridsf.com
Father’s Day Beer Brunch Cruise
Gather the whole family for Hornblower’s Father’s Day Beer Brunch Cruise. Treat dad to an enticing buffet, free-flowing beer and a keepsake pint glass on this two hour yacht cruise. There’s also champagne and mimosas, soda, OJ, coffee and tea along with the brunch, live entertainment, and breathtaking SF views. Seats are assigned and you even get a keepsake photo.
Date/Time: Sun., June 18, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cost: $89/adult; $80.10/senior (55 and up) or military with ID; $53.40/child 4-12; children 3 and under are free
Departs from Pier 3
Embarcadero at Washington St.
San Francisco, Ca 94111
Online: hornblower.com
Go Soaring at the Presidio Kite Festival
Let your imagination soar at this colorful, family-friendly festival featuring all things kite. The artistry, diversity, and fun of modern flying will take your breath away! The free, all-day event features a free “build you own kite” booth, hands on learning from kite experts, a kite art exhibition, giant kites, mega team flying, Taiko drummers, and food trucks. Offered in partnership with Highline Kites.
Date/Time: Jun 17 at Noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Presidio
Main Parade Ground
103 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, Ca
Online: redtri.com/san-francisco
East Bay
Walk the Plank to this 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. Plus you just gave him carte blanche to eat a turkey leg while gazing at mermaids. Epic win, pirate style.
Date/Time: Sat. & Sun., June 17 and 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: $12/general admission; free for children 11 and under
Vallejo Waterfront Park
298 Mare Island Way
Vallejo, Ca 94590
Online: norcalpiratefestival.com
Meet the Animals of the Garden
Bug out in the garden during Animal of the Garden Discovery Day at UC Botanical Gardens. During this family festival kids can get scoop on everything from very hungry caterpillars (do they really like salami and swiss cheese?) to plants that eat bugs. Discovery stations led by docents are sprinkled throughout the gardens. Come on two legs or on eight!
Date/Time: Jun 18 at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
UC Botanical Garden
200 Centennial Dr.
Berkeley, Ca
Online: redtri.com
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 and features perks like a BBQ buffet and cigar lounge. 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. This year the concert is held at the South Pond. All ages.
Date/Time: Sun., June 18, 2-6 p.m.
Cost: $30/adults; free/children 12 and under
Dunsmuir Hellman Estate
2960 Peralta Oaks Court
Oakland, Ca 94605
Online: dunsmuir-hellman.com/events
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! All ages.
Date/Time: Sat. & Sun., June 17 and 18, 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
Make Like Maverick Open Cockpit Day
Wanna know what it would be like to fly Korean War MiG-15? You can find out at Open Cockpit Day at the Oakland Aviation Museum. Get a glimpse of flight training in a simulator and let the imagination run wild in the Navy A-3 Sky Warrior. You can even tour the Solent Flying Boat from Raiders of the Lost Ark. There’s a food vendor area on site, too so you can grab lunch.
Date/Time: Sun., June 18, noon-4 p.m.
Cost: $10/adults; $7/Military & Teens; $5/Kids 6-12. Kids 5 and under are free.
Oakland Aviation Museum
5252 Earhart Rd
Oakland, Ca
Online: oaklandaviationmuseum.org
South Bay
Pick the Berry-Best With Dad
It’s berry season in California and Swanton Berry Farm is bursting with strawberries. Make sure to pop into the market to play board games or read stories. Don’t forget to check out the treats including fresh berry pies, strawberry shortcakes, delicious hot soup, strawberry lemonade, strawberry apple cider and more. The farm accepts cash and check only.
Date/Time: Open every day, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free; berries per pound
Swanton Berry Farm
25 Swanton Rd.
Davenport, Ca
Online: swantonberryfarm.org
Camp at Gilroy Gardens With Dad
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/Time: Jun 17 at 4 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: $45-$65
Gilroy Gardens
3050 Hecker Pass Rd.
Gilroy, Ca
Online: redtri.com/san-francisco
Raise the Woof with some Spotty Dogs
Dalmatian parents Pongo and Perdita live a happy, quiet life in London with their eight puppies and two human pets—Roger and Anita. But when their villainous neighbor Cruella De Vil decides to kidnap the puppies…well, you know the rest. See a production you’ll love almost as much as the kids do: it’s starring an eager cast of 4-12 -year-olds in a live version of one of your favorite Disney pup performances.
Date/Time: Fri., June 16, 7 p.m.; Sat., June 17, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. and Sun., June 18, 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Cost: $8-15
Historic Hoover Theatre
1635 Park Ave.
San Jose, Ca
Online: redtri.com
Take Dad on a Coastal Hike
Lunch, snacks, binoculars, water bottle, SPF, all check! You’ll want to pack all these goodies for Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks. On these two hour natural history excursions you will explore the plants, animals, and geology of the spectacular coastal bluffs. Meet at the Wilder Ranch Interpretive Center.
Date/Time: Sat., June 17, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: Free; Parking/$10
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast Rd.
Santa Cruz, Ca
Online: Wilder Ranch State Park
Peninsula
Barn Dance and Work Day at Pie Ranch
Give back and live it up at Pie Ranch in Pescadero! Grab your work gloves, gardening tools if you have them, and sturdy shoes and work on the farm tilling soil, pulling weeds, and cutting plants (at 1 p.m.). At 2 p.m. you can join a farm tour ($12-$20/person) to learn about the agriculture of the 27-acre ranch. Visit with cows, goats, chickens, and pigs, too. Then at 6 p.m. trade your work boots for dancing shoes! Bring a dish to share at the potluck dinner and and kick up your heels at the barn dance that follows featuring the Country Line Pickers.
Date/Time: June 17 at 2 p.m.
Cost: $12-$20/per person
Pescadero
Pie Ranch
2080 Cabrillo Hwy.
Pescadero, Ca
Online: redtri.com
Palo Alto World Music Day
Take dad on a trip around the world without leaving the Peninsula! Check out musical acts and performers from across genres and around the world at the 7th 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. And musicians of all ages and levels are invited to join in.
Date/Time: Sun., June 18, 3-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
King Plaza
250 Hamilton Ave.
Palo Alto, Ca 94301
Online: pamusicday.org
Marin County
Help Dad Reel in a Big Fish
Get hooked on fishing at the pier with tips and tricks from ranger and local anglers during Father’s Day Weekend. A valid California fishing license is required when fishing from the shore, not from the pier. Don’t forget to bring your dad and a fishing pole. All skill levels are welcome and no experience is necessary. Parks and Rec will provide bait and a limited amount of fishing poles, thanks to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Date/Time: June 17 at 10 a.m.–noon
Cost: Free
Paradise Beach Park
3450 Paradise Dr.,
Tiburon, Ca
Online: redtri.com
Give Dad a Break at the BBQ
It’s Dad’s day, so let someone else flip the burgers. Grab dad’s hand and cruise over to the Marin Country Mart Courtyard for Belcampo BBQ, Paella and Beer and the Folkish Fest. Tunes are by Big Brother and the Holding Company, Looking Through You and The Hippy Hill Band. So, dig in!
Date/Time: June 18 at 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Marin Country Mart
2257 Larkspur Landing Cir.
Larkspur, Ca
Online: redtri.com
What are your plans for this Dad’s Day? Tell us in the comments below!
–Erin Feher
