Your dad may be a little ruff and gruff, but you know underneath that exterior is someone who loves you very much. Bring out your dad’s softer side by throwing a Father’s Day party for him. It’s also a way to welcome a stepfather or to show the other father figures in your life your appreciation.

Passing the Fatherly Love Around: Father’s Day Invitations

Create inventive invitations that reflect your father’s personal style, interests or hobbies. Invitations that look like neckties, golf balls, leather shoes and briefcases are all evocative of our hard-working and sports-loving dads. If you’re having a theme party on the special day and if it requires guests to come dressed a certain way, make sure you clearly state so in the invitation.

Invite relatives, neighbors and your dad’s co-workers. If the party is kid-friendly, encourage those with kids to bring them along as well. If you’re throwing a surprise Father’s Day party, make sure you distribute the party invitations secretly and let all the guests in on the surprise.

Father’s Day Party Themes

Give your dad’s party a little more "oomph!" by assigning a theme for the party. Your dad will be touched by all your extra effort to make sure the party is truly for him. Here are some great suggestions for your Father’s Day party:

Golf sports
* Sports theme.Does your dad like golf? Soccer? Football? Baseball? Whatever sport it is, you can arrange your decorations around a sports theme, and even use the color motif of his favorite team’s colors. Hang balloons in the shape of sports items such as baseball bats or golf balls. You can also arrange backyard games of his sport of choice, with kids and adults playing together.
* George of the Jungle theme. Here’s a theme that’s certainly very masculine: take a walk to the wild side by adapting a jungle look to your party space. Set up monkey bars, jungle ropes and water slides for the complete jungle experience. Have a blast dressing up as George and his friends (your mom, of course, can be Jane).
* Country theme. If your dad was born in another country, it’s a nice tribute to throw traditional or cultural parties from his country of birth.


Yummy burger
* Outdoor barbecue. Father’s Day falls on the third Sunday of June, so it’s the perfect time for an outdoor barbecue. Set up long picnic tables, grills, and cook burgers all day.

At the end of the day, though, it doesn’t have to be too fussy. Your dad will appreciate any and all the efforts you did on throwing him a Father’s Day party. Just don’t forget your usual streamers and banners greeting your dad a Happy Father’s Day!

Family Bonding: Father’s Day Activities

Make the day a lot more fun by having some physical activity to warm up your old man’s legs and spirit. Hold games and activities that will bolster some father-child bonding.

blindfold games
* Blind Race. Pair up guests by an adult and a child, preferably a father with his son or daughter. Put a blindfold over the adults’ eyes and let the child guide them to the finish line by shouting instructions to him. Try to reach the finish line without bumping other people.
*Shaving Race. Have the same adult/child pairing as with the Blind Race. Make the adult sit down and apply whipped cream as shaving cream on his face. Using a popsicle, the children must then race to “shave” dad first.
* Mini Golf. You can rent a mini-golf set that can be set up right on your own lawn. Hold a mini-golf cup and let adults and kids compete against one another.
* “Best Dad Ever” Certificate. Distribute out certificates with the words, “Certification for Best Dad Ever. I think (Your Dad’s Name) is the best Dad because ________” and let kids, your mom and relatives write down why they think your dad is great. Have them affix their signature after to make it more “official”. Present it to your dad before the end of the party.
* Dad for 30 Seconds. Have your guests show off their imitation skills by imitating your dad’s catchphrases, movements and mannerisms. This will surely evoke lots of laughs! Vote for the best imitation and give the winner a prize.
* Present a Video Montage. Reminisce on the milestones of your dad’s life by putting together a video montage of his life in pictures. You can also video fond memories of friends and family and add it in as well.
* Break the Piñata. Buy a piñata for your dad to break!


Father talking to his son
* Roasting. Some good old-fashioned ribbing on dad care of friends and family can surely bring out another funnier, softer side to him.
* Chore Pledge. Before the party, meet with your siblings and agree on chores that you pledge to do for a month or so. Announce the pledge publicly (“Today, I pledge to wash the dishes after dinner for a month in honor of Father’s Day!”) with them as an additional gift to your dad which is sure to be welcomed.
* Chilling out with Dad. Set up a table for your dad to drink with his buddies after the party is over, and the younger guests have gone home. You can also set up a radio or a television for him to be able to tune in to his favorite stations or sports channels. If you and your siblings are old enough, maybe you can hang around with them, too.

Food Fit for a Dad

Your dad being, well, your dad, will most likely love simpler foods over complicated ones. Anything grilled, fried and barbecued will certainly be a hit for him. Here are some suggestions for your Father’s Day menu.

* Country style ribs

* Cornbread

* Coleslaw

* Crumb apple pie

* Corn on the cob (Tips on how to grill corn on the cob)

* Short ribs

* Banana pudding

* Muffins


Delicious short ribs

Sweet muffins

Lovely burger

* Roasted herb chicken

* Vegetables and dip

* Baked beans

* Chili

* Hamburgers, cheeseburgers and hotdog sandwiches

* Meatballs

* Potato salad

* Spaghetti

Of course, it won’t be complete without beer, soda and fruit juice!

You can also start the Father’s Day celebration early by preparing a special breakfast for dad. Serve him a wonderful breakfast in bed with these food items:

* Pancakes

* Waffles

* French toast

* Eggs in a basket


Hot omelet

mouth watering waffles

Tasty cereals

* Omelet

* Oatmeal

* Cereal

* Granola

Fathers Day Celebration

Don’t forget the coffee and orange juice, and a daisy to make a cheerful breakfast even cheerier.

Father’s Day is a unique opportunity for you to to show your dad how much you really love him. Of course, you should always show him you love him everyday, but take it is a challenge and put the extra effort in. Have a party that he’ll remember in the years to come! If you enjoy reading this article, you’ll surely be delighted to learn how to choose a father’s day gift.