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I’ve always been a strong supporter of letting Dad take the lead on Father’s Day activities. Of course you’ll let him sleep late, shower him with cards and attention, and make him a mammoth breakfast with unlimited bacon. But what if the idea well has run dry or the kids want to plan something special to do on Father’s Day?
I’ve got an array of Father’s Day activities in Seattle for top-shelf dads. Whether he’s a car guy, boat guy, nature guy, music guy, strawberry guy (is that even a thing?), or an easy-to-please guy, you’ll find something here for your Father’s Day weekend family fun.
Happy Father’s Day to all the super dads out there. Cheers to you!
Strawberry festivals
Date: Through Sunday, June 15
Cost: Varies by location
Let your dad gobble up the sweet berries and shortcake at four local strawberry festivals happening over Father’s Day weekend: Baby Animals & Berries Festival, Strawberry Festival at South Bay Grange, Biringer Farm Strawberry Festival and Burien Strawberry Days.
Meet the Beach With Puget Sound Estuarium
Date: Friday–Sunday, June 13–15
Cost: Free
Bring Dad to explore the beach at low tide. Naturalists will be on hand at Tolmie State Park, Squaxin Park and Luhr Beach in Olympia over Father’s Day weekend to lend their expertise.
Meeker Days Arts and Music Festival
Date: Friday–Sunday, June 13–15
Cost: Free
This annual arts and music festival held in downtown Puyallup and Pioneer Park has something for the whole family, including games for kids, a car show and beer garden for dad, and food and music for all.
Edmonds Arts Festival
Date: Friday–Sunday, June 13–15
Cost: Free
Bring your art-loving dad to soak in all types of art from music, dance and theater, to paintings, sculpture, photography and much more. There is even a station where kids can create art of their own!
Bicycle Weekends on Lake Washington Boulevard
Date: Saturday–Sunday, June 14–15
Cost: Free
Grab your helmets and enjoy a car-free bike ride with Dad along a section of Lake Washington Boulevard during one of Seattle’s Bicycle Weekends. Might we suggest Seward Park for the fantastic views?
Papa Bear Brunch
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, June 14–15, 9–11 a.m.
Cost: $89 adult; $69 child (includes zoo admission); ages 2 and younger are free
Book your tickets ahead of time and bring your Papa Bear to the Woodland Park Zoo for a hearty Father’s Day brunch with wild views of the zoo’s resident bears, lynx, elk or tigers. Tickets include zoo admission.
Olympic Air Show
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, June 14–15, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Cost: $22 day pass; $37.38 weekend admission; ages 6 and younger are free
Airplane-loving dad? Inspect all the awesome aircraft and look up to catch the amazing aerobatics performed at a local air show taking place at the Olympia Regional Airport.
Bell Harbor Rendezvous
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, June 14–15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Take Dad to admire the fancy yachts and hop aboard for a tour during the Classic Weekend at Bell Harbor Marina. This year, expect to see over 40 classic yachts!
Father’s Day Weekend Steam Train Ride
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, June 14–15, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. (departure times vary)
Cost: $14–$28; ages 1 and younger are free
All aboard! Northwest Railway Museum brings out its historic steam engine for Father’s Day weekend train excursions featuring amazing views of Snoqualmie Falls. Buy your tickets online.
Father’s Day Train Rides and BBQ
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, June 14–15, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (departure times vary)
Cost: $21–$29 for train rides only; $79 for barbecue dinner and ride; ages 1 and younger are free
Here’s another idea for a Father’s Day train ride with Pops. This one departs from the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Museum and you can book an excursion that includes a barbecue dinner and dessert! Don’t delay booking your reservations online for this popular event.
Father’s Day Car Shows
Date: Sunday, June 15
Cost: Free
Car dads — and grandpas — will appreciate all the classic and vintage rides to admire during Father’s Day car shows taking place in Issaquah, Burien and the Ballard Locks.
Canoe Mercer Slough
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 8:45 a.m.–noon
Cost: $20
Explore beautiful Mercer Slough Nature Park by water with Dad and the rest of the family during a three-hour canoe trip led by park rangers departing from Enatai Beach Park. Preregister.
Free Admission for Dads at Cougar Mountain Zoo
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Cost: Free for dads; $15–$18 for others; ages 2 and younger are free
Dads get free admission to Cougar Mountain Zoo all while enjoying fun themed enrichments and learning about dads in the animal kingdom.
Celebrate Father’s Day at the Sammamish Animal Sanctuary
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Cost: $49 donation
Animal-loving families will enjoy this unique experience at the Sammamish Animal Sanctuary in Renton. Help support the sanctuary with a donation, and Dad gets a cowboy hat the kids can decorate and two buckets of treats to feed the animals.
Dads Free on Father’s Day at the Museum of Flight
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Cost: Free for dads; others pay admission ($21–$29; children 4 and younger are free) or membership
Blast off! Dads get in free on Father’s Day at Seattle’s Museum of Flight, where you can check out Air Force One, the Concorde and lots of other flying machines.
Father’s Day at ACM
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Cost: Included with admission ($17.50–$24.50; children 4 and younger are free)
Celebrate your car buff dad at Lemay – America’s Car Museum, where special activities are happening all day.
Dad Games at Dave & Buster’s
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Cost: $29–$38
Bring Dad and the whole crew to compete in the second annual Dad Games on Father’s Day, where families will compete in the ultimate arcade showdown at Dave & Buster’s Auburn, Lynnwood and Bellevue locations.
Father’s Day With the Mariners
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 1:10–4 p.m.
Cost: Starting at $44
Take him out to the ballgame! The Mariners play the Cleveland Guardians this Father’s Day, with fun at the stadium planned for the whole family. Plus, the first 10,000 dads will receive free socks to celebrate.
Father’s Day With the Tacoma Rainiers
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 1:35–5 p.m.
Cost: $55.50 adults; $30.50 kids
Another fun idea for baseball-obsessed dads is a Tacoma Rainiers game. This outing includes a barbecue buffet while Dad and the whole crew enjoy a day at Cheney Stadium.
Father’s Day BBQ & Adventure Race
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 2–6 p.m.
Cost: $55 adults; $21 kids; ages 3 and younger are free
Treat Dad to a delicious barbecue meal and family time exploring the enchanting trails of Islandwood on Bainbridge Island where there will also be fun trailside activities to enjoy. But hurry, tickets are going fast!
Father’s Day Dinner Cruise
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 4:30–7 p.m.
Cost: $115 adult; $60 children; $25 ages 4 and younger
Celebrate Dad with dinner aboard a yacht cruising the waters of Lake Union, surrounded by views of the Seattle skyline and scenic waterfronts and landmarks.
‘Said By The Father and Son’ — A Soulful Musical Experience Honoring Black Fatherhood, Legacy and Love
Date and time: Sunday, June 15, 6–8 p.m.
Cost: $29
Families with older kids can bring Dad to a two-man show about Black fatherhood and the generational bond between father and son through poetry, storytelling and soul-infused music performed by real-life father and son, Leon and Rob Walker.
More Father’s Day ideas: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2017 and is updated each year, most recently on June 4, 2025, to include new Father’s Day activity ideas for Seattle-area families by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara.
