Looking for ideas to celebrate Father’s Day in Chicago? The Windy City offers endless ways to celebrate Dad with families and adults. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, below are the most popular Father’s Day activities in Chicago worth checking out this year.
Father’s Day in Chicago: 7 Ways to Celebrate in the Windy City for Families & Adults
Below are our top seven things to do in Chicago for Father’s Day with public transit directions.
1. Watch the Chicago Cubs Home Game at Wrigley Field
This year, the Chicago Cubs have a home game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Father’s Day, June 21st, making Wrigley Field a perfect place to take Dad. In celebration of the holiday, the venue will give a free Father’s Day t-shirt to the first 5,000 fans who enter. There’s also a giveaway for youth baseball and softball sports sunglasses if you’re taking the family.
Wrigley Field is located at 1060 W Addison St in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. The Addison train station is in front of the venue via the Red Line. The Addison & Racine bus stop is a three-minute walk via Bus 152.
2. Go on a Father’s Day Brunch Cruise on Lake Michigan
Source: City Cruises
Instead of gifts, make unforgettable memories on a Father’s Day brunch cruise in Chicago. Hosted by City Cruises, you can set sail in a glass-enclosed yacht on the beautiful Lake Michigan. Capture family photos of famous landmarks, such as the Adler Planetarium and Willis Tower, with panoramic views from a climate-controlled interior deck or on the open-air rooftop deck.
Tickets start at $77 (infants free) for a chef-curated brunch buffet and include:
•Freshly prepared entree, salad, and dessert
•Unlimited coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and water
•Guaranteed table for your party size
•Live DJ
•Cash bar for specialty cocktails, wine, and beer
You can also upgrade to a window table reservation for the best views.
City Cruises Chicago is located on Navy Pier in the Streeterville neighborhood. The boarding area is at 455 N Cityfront Plaza Dr, where you’ll have to meet 30 minutes before sailing time. The Grand train station is a nine-minute walk via the Red Line. The Columbus & Illinois bus stop is a two-minute walk via Buses 66 and 124.
3. Take a Pizza-Making Class Together at Bettie’s Chicago
Source: Bettie’s Chicago
Food is the universal love language, and pizzamaking is a unique way to bond with Dad. The highly-rated Bettie’s Chicago offers a Chicago tavern-style pizza class for ages 18+ and all skill levels. You’ll both learn how to make a cracker-thin-crust pizza from scratch, including the sauce, at a 1950’s retro diner-themed event space and recreational cooking/baking school. The class sizes are small for an intimate experience and last two-and-a-half hours. They also allow BYOB of beer and wine with complimentary alcohol served. Tickets cost $135 per person and reservations are required.
Bettie’s Chicago is located at 835 N Larrabee St, Suite C, in the River North neighborhood. The nearest public transit option is the Chicago train station, a 10-minute walk via the Brown and Purple Lines.
4. Attend the Real Men Cook Event
Source: Real Men Charities
As one of the most popular Father’s Day events in Chicago, Real Men Cook is an annual charity food-tasting celebration. Hosted by Real Men Charities, this year marks the 37th anniversary, where fathers and father figures cook for the community. Taste over 300 sample-sized portions of delicious food from home cooks, backyard BBQs, professional chefs, restaurants, and more.
There’s also live entertainment featuring music, men’s health/family wellness activities, and local Black history educational programs. Tickets cost $40 for general admission, $30 for early bird, or $75 for an individual cook registration if your dad wants to join. The event runs from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Father’s Day, June 21st.
The Real Men Cook event takes place at The Quarry Event Center on 2423 E 75th St in the South Shore neighborhood. The Windsor Park train station is a six-minute walk away via the ME Line. The 75th St & Crandon bus stop is a four-minute walk via Buses 75 and N5.
5. Join the 5K Fun Run at Marz Community Brewing Company
Source: Eventbrite
Is your dad a fitness and beer enthusiast? Consider planning your adults-only Father’s Day in Chicago at the 5K Fun Run at Marz Community Brewing Company. Hosted by the Illinois Brewing Running Series, you’ll start and finish at the taproom with a scenic route of the surrounding neighborhood.
Don’t worry about fitness levels. It’s an untimed event where you can run, walk, or jog your way through the open course—and a refreshing craft brew waiting for you at the finish line. There’s also live music, food trucks, and local vendors onsite. The run takes place on Father’s Day, June 21st, at 11:00 am.
There are two registration options available, which include:
•Standard Registration: Local-made craft beverage, choice of collector’s pint glass or seasonal swag item, and giveaway door prizes for $52.73.
•Premium Registration: Everything in the standard registration, plus a Brewery Runnings Series t-shirt for $76.25.
The Marz Community Brewing Company is located at 3630 S Iron St in the South Side neighborhood. The nearest public transit option is the Ashland & 37th St bus stop, an eight-minute walk via Bus 8. The Ashland train station is also a 24-minute walk to the brewery via the Orange Line.
6. Catch a Local Comedy Show
If you’re searching for adults-only Father’s Day activities in Chicago, the city is historically known for its comedy scene.
Whether you enjoy improv, standup, or sketch comedy, there are many comedy venues in Chicagoland, including:
•The Second City: A two-stage 1959 improv theater troupe venue in Lincoln Park, featuring beverage/dinner menus, and a piano, with famous alumni like Amy Poehler and Stephen Colbert.
•Laugh Factory: A 1979 stand-up venue in Lakeview with VIP balcony lounges, food/drinks, and famous alumni like Dave Chappelle and Adam Sandler.
•Annoyance Theatre: The longest-running improv and sketch venue since 1987, featuring two stages, a full-service bar, snack menu, and famous alumni like Steve Carell and Jane Lynch. Located down the street from The Laugh Factory.
These venues each offer weekly shows and even open mic nights if your dad is up for working a crowd!
7. Tee Off at the Harborside International Golf Center
Source: Harborside International Golf Center
Springtime is in full swing, and a great season to celebrate Father’s Day in Chicago outdoors. The Harborside International Golf Center is an award-winning driving golf range and practice facility. Tee off with dad alongside picturesque lakeside and city skyline views on two 18-hole course options. While all skill levels are welcome, the courses are designed to be challenging.
The facility also has a 20,000 square-foot prairie-inspired clubhouse restaurant, The Pier, overlooking the golf courses, serving American classic cuisine. In previous years, they’ve had special Father’s Day brunch and lunch buffets for $80 with golf discounts, so we recommend booking a tee time and restaurant reservations in advance. If you don’t want to sit down and eat after golfing all day, there are beverage carts available.
The Harborside International Golf Center is located at 11001 S Doty Ave near the Chicago Loop. The nearest public transit option is the 111th St & Doty/Corliss bus stop, a four-minute walk via Bus 111A. The 111th St (Pullman) train station is also less than a 15-minute walk via the Metra Electric (ME) Line.
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