Massachusetts
Make Father’s Day memorable with these 10 activities in Massachusetts
What is the history of Father’s Day
What is the history of Father’s Day and when is it this year.
As beaches start to open and warmer weather begins to settle in across New England, the start to summer is officially here, meaning Father’s Day is right around the corner. This year, the holiday falls on Sunday, June 21.
Looking for an activity to celebrate the men in your life outside of the house? Luckily, Massachusetts has plenty of fun Father’s Day events that dad, brother or grandpa would enjoy, all the way from a relaxing weekend of camping in the Berkshires to a jam-packed strawberry picking festival with fun for the whole family.
Here are 10 of Massachusetts’ best Father’s Day activities to check out with dad this year.
Go strawberry picking
Enjoy a classic summer day of strawberry picking with dad at Tougas Family Farm’s Father’s Day event, called Burgers, Berries and Beer. Along with open you-pick fields, the celebration will have music, a beer garden, a touch-a-tractor experience, a barnyard with animals to meet and a playground for kids. Food options include burgers, hot dogs and a special smoked brisket, as well as goods like ice cream, strawberry shortcake, strawberry smoothies, pies and more from the farm store.
The farm’s Father’s Day event will last all Father’s Day weekend long, with strawberry fields open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the beer garden open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday or 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tougas’ family picking package allows up to four people to pick four quarts of berries at $10.50 per person.
See a Red Sox game
If dad is a big Boston sports fan, there is no better way to celebrate Father’s Day than a Red Sox game. This year, the Red Sox are away over Father’s Day weekend, but there are plenty of games during the week before and wekeend after the holiday. A full schedule of Red Sox games, as well as tickets, can be found on mlb.com/redsox.
Check out a car show
With over 350 classic vehicles including hot rods, resto mods and classic cars of every era, the Greater Hyannis Chamber of Commerce Father’s Day Car Show has something for every car fan. One of the largest yearly cars shows in New England, the free event will take place on Sunday, June 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street in Hyannis. Music will accompany the show, and various restaurants and stores on Main St. will be open for shopping and dining.
Celebrate at a festival
Does dad like art? Take him to the 71st Annual South Shore Arts Festival, hosted by the South Shore Art Center. The three day-long festival will include a beer garden, live performances, children’s activities, an exhibition of 400 original artworks, a craft village of nearly 100 local exhibitors and plenty of food vendors, including Del’s Lemonade.
Admission is free, but a minimum $5 donation is encouraged. Festival hours are noon to 6 p.m. on June 19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 20 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 21. The festival will take place at 119 Ripley Road in Cohasset.
Go axe throwing
Adventurous dads on the South Coast can enjoy a day of free axe throwing at Stumpy’s Hatchet House in Fall River, where sessions are offered for all ages of family members. Bring along a favorite beer, enjoy old-school games and be sure to pick up dad’s free Stumpy’s coozie.
Dads receive one hour of free throwing with one paid thrower or two hours with five paid throwers, and bookings can be reserved online. Stumpy’s is open from 2-10 p.m. on Sundays at 75 Ferry St. in Fall River.
Have brunch on a train
While Father’s Day brunch is offered at tons of restaurants in Massachusetts, the Cape Cod Central Railroad puts a unique spin on the meal by adding wheels. Departing from Hyannis at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, the railroad’s Father Day Brunch Train takes a two-hour train ride through the scenic Cape Cod countryside while serving a three-course meal. Food options include steak and eggs, a strawberry rhubarb French toast bake and biscuit and gravy casserole.
Tickets for the brunch train, which can be bought at fareharbor.com, start at $75 for adults or $55 for children ages 3-11.
Spend a day at the zoo
For a family-fun day, explore wildlife from all around the world at one of Zoo New England’s locations. Both Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham will offer free admission to all fatherly figures on Sunday, June 21.
All other attendees are required to purchase tickets, starting at $18.95 for adults, $17.05 for seniors and $15.15 for children ages 2-12. Both zoos will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Watch a monster truck show
Celebrate dad with a day of high-energy action at Seekonk Speedway’s Monster Truck Father’s Day Bash. The day will include one-on-one racing, monster truck rides and a meet-and-greet with the drivers, ending in the main event – a monster truck showdown.
General admission costs $25 for adults or $12 for children on Seekonk Speedway’s website, though prices are more expensive at the door. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m., with the main show starting at 2 p.m.
Cruise through Boston Harbor
For dads who would love a day on the water, City Cruises hosts Father’s Day cruises through Boston Harbor for both brunch and lunch. The two-hour cruises include an extensive food buffet, a live DJ, a cash bar with delicious cocktails and breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline.
Both cruises will sail from noon to 2 p.m. on Father’s Day. The brunch cruise starts at $69, while the lunch cruise starts at $52. Tickets for both cruises can be purchased on City Cruises website.
Go camping for the weekend
If dad likes the outdoors, Father’s Day weekend is a perfect time to take him camping, and luckily, Massachusetts has over 30 state parks with camping locations.
For a special Father’s Day camping celebration, set up camp at Prospect Mountain Campground in the Berkshires, where Father’s Day weekend includes events like wiffle ball, paddle boat races, Father’s Day crafts and music bingo. Reservations can be made on campspot.com, with standard tent sites starting at $89.48 per night.