My father is good at a great number of things. Making people laugh. Being generous. Being kind. Working hard. What my dad is NOT good at is receiving gifts. No matter how much he loves to give them, he’s just too practical for presents himself.
I know I’m not the only one who faces this dilemma every Father’s Day (which is Sunday, June 18, this year, by the way). Brunch with mom and flowers? That’s easy. Dad? Not so simple. So I thought I’d compile some activities and gift ideas for all of us.
Things to Do
Fresno Grizzlies Baseball & BBQ
Some of you might already have guessed that my number one answer whenever possible is always going to be baseball. The Fresno Grizzlies have a great event planned for Father’s Day, and it’s a ridiculously good deal, too!
For $35, you and dad can get two tickets to the game and two passes for the Father’s Day barbecue, which is all-you-can-eat for 90 minutes! Food includes pulled pork, hot dogs, burgers, watermelon, potato salad and more! Single tickets can be purchased for $16.50 so you can bring as many family members as you want. Buy tickets at the Grizzlies box office or online here (select Super View to find the special tickets). If you can’t make it to the game, tickets to July’s Taco Truck Throwdown would make a great gift for dad as well. It’s going to be a two-day extravaganza this year!
Club One Poker Tourney
Club One Casino is hosting a “Who’s Your Daddy?” poker tournament. If your dad is a poker player, paying for his $100 buy-in would make a great gift!
Father’s Day Blues
For the more musically inclined, there is the 8th annual Tower District Father’s Day Blues Festival. Tickets are only $15 each, and are available at the Tower Theatre box office and several other neighborhood businesses. Details can be found here.
Summer Music Series
Speaking of music, Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co. continues their Summer Music Series with DJ Mr. Leonard and Friends. Casa Tamales will be on hand with food for purchase and there will be a beer garden, of course. See the full schedule here.
Barrels, BBQ and Blues
If wine is more your dad’s thing, Engelmann Cellars is hosting an event called Barrels, BBQ and Blues. The event itself is free, but tickets for a barbecue buffet by The Smoke Joint must be purchased in advance. Details and tickets available here.
Places to Eat
Pressbox Sports Grill
Pressbox Sports Grill on Champlain and Perrin has all sorts of Father’s Day deals on tap, with an all-day Happy Hour, brunch, $5 Bloody Marys, bottomless mimosas, and even a first “MANmosa” for dad for only 50 cents! Let’s face it: Dad probably just wants to eat and watch sports all day anyway. Check them out here.
House of Juju
If you don’t feel like grilling at home but still want to have a good burger, I HIGHLY recommend House of Juju in Clovis. They topped our list of 5 Best Places to Get a Burger earlier this year. For our Super MEGA List of Burger Places, click here.
Hyde & Vyne
Or is it steak you’re after? I am extremely partial to Hyde & Vyne, a restaurant I discovered a couple months ago. Their shareable steaks and side dishes are superb. Plus, they also offer a Sunday brunch buffet!
What to Give
By now you may be wondering what I’m giving my own father. Basically the man only accepts wine as a gift. So I’ll be heading over to Total Wine & More to pick up some local selections, along with a few wine accessories perhaps.
My dad also likes to eat. If his schedule permitted, I would buy us tickets to an upcoming dinner with the Fresno Underground Supper. They just announced that their July dinner will be a luau, and I know it’s going to be fabulous! Go to their website to become a member for free so you can purchase spots for the unique dining experiences.
Booking an escape room would also be really fun. This could technically fall under Things to Do on Sunday, but would work as a gift certificate as well. We’ve done stories on Breakout Fresno and Mind Games in Clovis, both of which offer great puzzle-solving experiences. I also just finished a Harry Potter-inspired escape room at Unlock Escape Rooms in Clovis that was a complete blast!
Keep it simple and sweet with Frosted Cakery’s Man Pack, featuring their “super manly specialty flavors”: Butterfinger with a Butterfinger-filled Cannoli, Cookie Monster, Double Chunk Brownie with a Brownie taco and Salted Caramel with a Salted Caramel Bacon Donut. Orders can be placed online for pick-up.
Oh, and when in doubt, go to The Foundry Collective in Clovis. They usually have a great selection of gifts for dad around this time.
That’s my two cents when it comes to Father’s Day this year! I hope I’ve been helpful. We’d love to hear some of your ideas in the comments!
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