Amanda Garrity from Good Housekeeping notes that on a typical Father’s Day, you might celebrate the father figures in your life with a fun cookout, tickets to a baseball game, or even a visit to a theme park.
This year, however, is different than most due to the coronavirus outbreak. While some states have lifted their stay-at-home orders, many local businesses are still not up-and-running, which means it’s harder to follow your normal traditions like Father’s Day brunch at his favorite restaurant or a matinee showing at the nearby theater. Still, your special guy — dads, grandpas, fathers-in-law, uncles, and so forth — deserves to be celebrated in a big way, which is why we’ve rounded up a number of Father’s Day ideas that are appropriate for quarantine.
Serve a hearty brunch.
Start his day with a feast fit for a king, complete with scrambled eggs, bacon, and a build-your-own bagel spread. Round out the meal with a morning cocktail because it’s a holiday after all (as if you needed an excuse).
Plan a family game night.
If he’s a stickler about screen time, give dad what he really wants this Father’s Day: quality bonding time with the whole family. Once you convince everyone to step away from their screens, battle it out over a few board games, or see how well you can work together with complicated jigsaw puzzles. Just let dad pick which game he wants to start with.
Organize a beer tasting.
Just because he can’t hit up his favorite craft brewery, doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy their offerings in the comfort of his own home. Pick up a beer tasting flight in advance, and then pour a mix of lagers, ales, and IPAS from local breweries. That way, you can support local businesses while helping him discover new favorites.
Host an outdoor movie night.
Drive-in movie theaters are great and all, but can you snuggle up in your PJs and roast s’mores while you watch? Exactly. Shine a projector against a blank wall, and pick one of dad’s favorite movies to watch. For a true theater experience, serve popcorn, candy, and a special after-hours drink for your #1 guy.
Laugh your way through Netflix’s comedy specials
Even if you can’t go to an actual comedy show, you can still laugh your day away with some of today’s top comics. You’re guaranteed to find something on Netflix that’ll give him a good chuckle, no matter if he prefers the comedic stylings of John Mulaney, Trevor Noah, Adam Sandler, or Wanda Sykes (or all of the above).
Need additional ideas?
Steal his heart with sweets.
The only thing sweeter than your relationship with dad is the Father’s Day cake that you’ll make him. Find one that best matches his flavor preferences, and then dress it up with decorations that suit his interests.
Learn something new together.
It’s true: Your dad is never too old to learn new tricks. Sign him up for an all-access pass to MasterClass, so he can take classes taught by the best in sports, movies, television, cooking, gardening, photography, and more. Or if he has his heart set on learning a new language, you can spend some quality time nailing down phrases, tenses, and basic words with Duolingo or Rosetta Stone.
Check places off your bucket list.
Your vacation plans may be on hold, but there are still so many ways you can explore the magnificent wonders of the world. Take a (virtual) trip across the pond to explore the sights and sounds of The Louvre in Paris, Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, or The British Museum in London. If he’d rather keep it stateside, bring out his inner child with a tour of Walt Disney World, including firework displays and virtual rides.
Pitch a tent in your backyard.
Especially if his kids are too young to make it through a night at the campsite, consider setting up a tent in your backyard for a similar experience. It’s a win for everyone: He can enjoy the fun that camping brings — ghost stories, campfires, and sleeping bag snuggles — but the whole family can head inside if it gets too cold or uncomfortable outside.
Revisit the best games in sports history.
Like everything else, most sporting events are on pause for the foreseeable future. But if he’s the type to hunker down in front of the TV and watch his team on Father’s Day, then track down their best games for an all-day marathon. Just make sure the marathon ends on a winning note for dad’s sake … and yours.
