Panicking because June 19 is drawing closer and you haven’t made any reservations, bought any tickets, or otherwise prepared for Father’s Day? It’s okay—we’re in the same boat, which is why we’ve compiled a list of last-minute events to attend with daddy dearest. Everything below is $20 or under, and there are plenty of opportunities to eat barbecue, drink beer, look at old cars, and do other (slightly) less stereotypical Father’s Day things. If nothing below calls to you, check out our complete Father’s Day calendar, or our list of all the other cheap and easy events this weekend, including Fremont Solstice and Block Party at the Station.
ALL WEEKEND
1. Chococurb Pop-Up Shop
This Father’s Day Weekend, indulge dad’s sweet tooth at the Chococurb pop-up shop! (Fremont, free entry)
2. Father’s Day Weekend Celebration
Build toy boats, observe fancy yachts, and drop in on seminars during Father’s Day weekend at Bell Harbor Marina. (Downtown, free)
3. Fathers Ride Free
Fathers ride free at the Northwest Railway Museum (with a paying child of any age) on Father’s Day weekend. (Snoqualmie, $10-$20)
4. Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival
What started as a local event is now a regional attraction, with some of the PNW’s finest bluegrass musicians headlining, and a beautiful woodland campground to play around in for the weekend. Walk-in prices are $25 per person on Friday and Saturday, and $10 per person on Sunday; children 12 and under are free. (Cashmere, $10-$25)
SATURDAY
5. 18th Annual Olympic Airshow
During the 18th annual Olympic Airshow, hosted by the Olympic Flight Museum, there will be performances from a variety of aircraft (including Vietnam helicopters, an AH-1 Cobra, and an F8F-2A Bearcat), heritage aircraft from the museum’s collection on display, and opening ceremonies at noon. (Olympia, $12/$15)
6. The Deltaz
Enjoy a live set at the Columbia City Bourbon Bar from the Deltaz, purveyors of a wide spectrum of music, from heavy blues to psychedelia to classic country and folk. Free for dads, also free for everyone else. (Columbia City, free)
7. FHC’s Famous Fighters: Free Fly Day
Watch father and son teams (Steve and Steven Hinton, Bud and Ross Granley) fly aircrafts from the Flying Heritage Collection including the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the P-47, the Spitfire, and the Japanese Zero. (Everett, free)
8. Wild Nearby Opening Day Trails and Camping Expo
Aspiring/active adventurers and mountaineers, check out Wild Nearby (an exhibit highlighting the beauty of the North Cascades), hear talks about hiking and navigation, and participate in activities ranging from tent expos to walking up to (mounted) bears at this day-long celebration of the wilderness close to home. (Burke Museum, $10)
SUNDAY
9. The Anissa Quintet
This Father’s Day, enjoy a free set of jazz and R&B blends from the Anissa Quintet on the Capitol Cider stage. Bring your dad in for some dinner, drinks, and three whole hours of music. (Capitol Hill, free)
10. Bainbridge Block Party
Expect three local bands, more than 20 food vendors (including Bainbridge Beignets and B.I. Street Meat), a photo shoot, face painting, and more at this Father’s Day street festival on Bainbridge Island. Stores will be open until 8 pm, so it’s a great time to peruse the shops, too. (Bainbridge Island, free)
11. Beer & BBQ at the Country Village Shops
A family celebration of Father’s Day that includes beer, BBQ, food trucks, live music, vendors, balloon animals, face painting, and a kids corner, plus a special appearance by “Blitz the Seahawk” from 11 am-noon. (Bothell, free)
12. Burien Father’s Day Car Show
The 13th annual Burien Father’s Day Car Show will feature plenty of restored classic cars and “their present-day cousins,” a motorcycle show, ’50s and ’60s music, raffles, and a chili cook-off. (Burien, free)
13. Destiny City Freakycon 2
If Dad has a taste for the weird and geeky, head to Tacoma for this second annual convention for local games, comics, and horror. The “ghastly group of guests” includes game developer October Games, ghost experts from Tacoma Ghost Tours, vampire and zombie fiction creators Alucard Press, and Bellingham comics company Space Goat Publishing. While you’re there, check out the Captain Picard Art Show, on display at Destiny City through the end of the month. (Tacoma, free)
14. Father’s Day at the Ballard Locks
In conjunction with the Chittenden Locks Summer Concert Series (which, for Father’s Day, will feature traditional pipe and drum music from the Elliott Bay Pipe Band), there will also be a show of classic cars of the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s at the Ballard Locks. (Ballard, free)
15. Father’s Day at the Zoo
On Father’s Day, dads get half-price admission (usually $20) with the purchase of a child’s admission ($12.25); special activities include learning about the parenting behaviors of zoo animals (including a special talk at 1:30 pm about the “very unusual and important” role emu dads play in parenting), a special tour activity sheet of paternal animals living at the zoo, and Father’s Day crafts. (Phinney)
16. Father’s Day BBQ
Enjoy a BBQ with food from Gravediggers and Mitzel’s, then head inside the LeMay Family Collection (car museum) where Dad will get $5 off admission. (Tacoma, $10/$15)
17. Fenders on Front Street Vintage Car Show
This free vintage car show lets you observe hundreds of classic/vintage cars, in addition to offering live music, family activities, an award ceremony, and an afternoon cruise. (Issaquah, free)
18. A Grand Little Festival in Celebration of: Summer Solstice, Juneteenth, and Father’s Day
Somehow managing to celebrate Juneteenth, Father’s Day and the Summer Solstice all in one festival, the Dragon’s Egg Inn is throwing a free all-ages bacchanalia at Lincoln Park. All day you’ll have access to a BBQ, DJs and live music, art performances, a Juneteenth-themed Afrofuturist space jam, pop-up artisan market, intergenerational theatre games, face painting, balloon creation, an open mic, and more, all in a magical forested setting. (West Seattle, free)
19. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg
On Father’s Day, watch The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, a documentary about Detroit Tigers first baseman and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Hank Greenberg—the first super-famous Jewish athlete in the United States. The ticket price includes weekend morning staples: coffee, bagels, and schmear. (Mercer Island, $10)
20. KEXP Father’s Day Kids Dance Party
Bring you and yours to the 2016 Father’s Day Kids Dance Party this Sunday at the new home of KEXP. They’ve got your kid-friendly Father’s Day stacked with crafts, pizza, and dancing for the whole family. (Seattle Center, $7/$12)
21. School of Rock: A Tribute to Santana
Take dad to see the tiny musical treasures of the future play the rock relics of the past, with School of Rock’s tribute to guitar legend Santana. (Fremont, $12)
22. Sherman Alexie
On Father’s Day, Stranger Genius Sherman Alexie will read from his new children’s book Thunder Boy Jr., the idea for which, as he recently told Trevor Noah on The Daily Show, came about during his father’s funeral in 2003. (Capitol Hill, free)
