It’s a special day for the dads this coming weekend, and there are a bunch of great ways for the whole family to celebrate if you’re looking for ideas. This round-up has a variety of suggestions, with something to suit every honoree. Happy Father’s Day!
Celebrate with Soccer
Where: Around the DC Area
When: June 21
Admission: Varies by place
If dad is a soccer fan, it’ll be easy to give him a great day! Several matches are being played on Sunday, and there are a bunch of great family-friendly places where you can watch them, from from small pubs to patios and biergartens to large outdoor watch parties. You can have meal while you see the game, and maybe even enjoy more fun and entertainment . This post has a round-up of World Cup watch spots that woud also be great for celebrating.
Father’s Day Fish-a- Rama
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: June 21
Admission: $13/child, $15/adult
Treat Dad to a fun-filled weekend with Great Country’s annual BBQ and catch-and-release fishing event. Guests can compete in the Fish-a-Rama contest, fishing for catfish, bass, and blue gill in the stocked ponds, and prizes are on the line for the largest fish hooked from 9am – 2pm. Bring your own pole and gear to fish (no drag hooks). GCF has worms for purchase in the country store. The amusement continues on the five-acre farm-style playground featuring a jumping pillow, slides, animal barnyard, and loads more fun for all.
Father’s Day: Field Day with Dad
Where: Shipgarten | Tysons Corner, VA
When: June 21, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Father’s Day at the family-friendly restaurant in Tysons. There will be fun competitions, like a potato sack race, parachute game, marshmallow to stein toss, and a marchmallow in spoon relay, plus all kinds of fun for little ones — FREE face painting and arts & crafts, moonbounces, and a full outdoor playground. Dogs are more than welcome at Shipgarten, too, whether on-leash or in our off-leash dog park. Note the schedule, so you don’t miss the fun!
Take Dad Out to the Baysox
Where: Prince George’s Stadium | Bowie, MD
When: June 21, 1:05pm
Admission: Starts at $13.33
The Nats might be awayt his weekend, but you can still enjoy some Father’s Day baseball. The Chesapeake Baysox, a local minor league team, are hosting the Richmond Fying Squirrels on Sunday, and there’s extra family fun to enjoy for the special day. There are also games on Friday and Saturday if those days work better.
Bike & Brews
Where: Metropolitan Beer Trail | Northeast DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Cost of your brews & food
A bike ride on the Metropolitan Beer Trail is how we celebrated Father’s Day last year with friends, and the mix of some active recreation and a little indulgence was perfect for celebrating the honorees. It’s a casual ride that kids could easily do, and many of the stops are family-friendly during the day, some even with arcade games to play, and you can get food at all of them to satisfy everyone. If it’s too far to bike to from where you are, you can always walk the route (or part of it) instead.
More Family Bike Ride
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
For dads who like to two-wheel it, plan a family bike ride. You’ve got your pick of good routes around the area. Take in the summer scenery, get some exercise, and enjoy some QT together. This post has a bunch of pedal-worthy recs, with something for riders of all levels, and this route is particularly ideal with kids.
Father’s Day DJ Class
Where: Words Beats & Life | Columbia Heights, DC
When: June 21, 2-4pm
Admission: $65.87
Does he love music and the idea of “making” his own? Take him to at a DJ class! The experience is an introduction to hands on DJ mixing with a veteran instructor, where he can learn basic technique, mix two songs together, and get a hip-hop history lesson as well.The whole fam, ages 8+, can get in on it — price is per person.
Go With the Flow
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
Spend quality time with the man of the hour on the water, where you can paddle and explore. A bunch of places around the area rent kayaks, canoes, rowboats, SUPs, and pontoons. This post has a round-up of all of them, some of which are located at parks where you can enjoy a picnic, too.
Walk in the Woods
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
Celebrate the day and dad on the trail. Tramp in places with scenic views, walk and explore history at interesting locales, try to spot wild creatures, and enjoy a day of active fun. Bring along a picnic for lunch al fresco, too. This go-to KFDC post has a bunch of recommendations for good places to hit the trail with the whole fam.
Hike & Hang
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by place
These specific recommendations for hikes are great if you want to extend the day to include food, drinks, and maybe some fun and games to celebrate, too. There are a bunch of awesome combos for that around the area, and you can get details about all of them here, plus a couple extra here.
A Meal for the Man of the Hour
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Cost of your meal
You really can’t go wrong with plans focused around food and drink, and there are plenty of restaurants around DC to go out for a good, fun meal with the fam. Here are a few of my recs for the occasion: St. Anselm, The Salt Line, Carmine’s, Pastis, Cactus Cantina. Be sure to make reservations.
Lunch & Play
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by activity
If he likes to get his game on or enjoy a fun mission, take dad to a place that offers opportunities to play. From pickleball and roller skating to bowling and bocce to tennis and golf to escape rooms and scavenger hunts, this round-up has tons ideas for celebrating with some active indoor fun. Even better, many of the places also serve food to include a meal, too. (If not, just find a restaurant close by!)
Fun in the Trees
Where: Adventure Park at Sandy Spring
When: Ongoing
Admission: Starts at $69/age 12+, $59/7-11, $22/5 & 6
For adventurous dads who love the outdoors, particularly being in the trees, an afternoon in the aerial adventure forest of the Adventure Park at Sandy Springs is the perfect way to spend the day — it is hands down the best aerial ropes course in the area. There are still some tickets available for Sunday, but if you can’t score them for that day, think Father’s Day gift and reserve for another day! (FYI: This is one of our favorite adventures in the area — read more about it here.)
Disc Golfin’
Where: Parks Around the DC Area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale (usually FREE)
Celebrate the day by hitting the links, the chain links, that is! Disc golf is a great way to savor a day outdoors with the family. This post has info about our favorite in College Park, and there are also great courses at Patapsco Valey State Park in MD, Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, VA, Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, MD, and Burke Lake Park in Burke, VA. Not only is it fun and challenging, the courses are set up in pretty parks with opportunities for more recreation at all of them. Bring along a picnic for lunch in the fresh air, too.
A Grand Feast
Where: Crab houses around the area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Cost of your meal
Steamed crabs, cold beer, scenic views… that’s a recipe for a great Father’s Day for at least one dad I know. The 2026 Summer Guide has lots of suggestions on where to feast on Maryland’s best dish. I recommend making reservations if possible — this is always a very popular way to celebrate.
*Extra Ideas*
* Celebrate at home with a good homemade meal.
* Or have some special treats sent to him.
* Good movies for the day.
* Get out of town for the occasion.
* Gift recs: The best pants (according to my husband), nice summer shirt, a timely book, board game, outdoor pizza oven, tickets for the Nats, DC United, DC Open tennis tourney, or a fun concert.
