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Make it a Father’s Day he’ll never forget
We’ve got entertainment experiences sure to impress dad!
Father’s Day is on 18 June. Why not treat dear old dad to a fantastic day out?
He’s always been the one to fix things you’ve broken, help you with your maths homework and coach you in football, along with a thousand other little things. So thank your dad in a big way – one that will knock his socks off.
Below are just a few recommendations for showing him a good time during Father’s Day weekend or later in the year. Plus, find more great ideas in our Father’s Day guide or let him pick out the event he likes best by getting a Ticketmaster gift card.
Tap into his free-spirited, fun-loving side at a festival
Dad will have a cracking time at House of Common. Held on August bank holiday Monday at London’s Clapham Common, this one-day festival curated by Madness is anything but common. De La Soul, Soul II Soul, David Rodigan and The Skatalites will be joining Suggs and the boys. Buy dad a pint and pasty while he rocks out to Our House – he’ll be in heaven!
Also just the ticket: The inaugural edition of TRNSMT in Glasgow features musical heavyweights Radiohead, Biffy Clyro and Kasabian. Star Shaped Festival is on the road bringing Britpop bands – including Sleeper and The Bluetones – to a city near your dad. For a mix of comedy and contortion, there’s Underbelly Festival in London’s South Bank.
Fuel his outdoorsy, manly man side with action-packed sport
Just call him Demolition Daddy (that’s his wrestling nickname) and make tracks for WWE Live which is touring the UK in November. Your dad’s favourite Superstars – like Randy Orton, Finn Bálor and The Hardy Boyz, as well as super sexy four-time women’s champion Charlotte Flair – will be there. Watching lots of body-slamming is the perfect way for him to release stress and unwind.
Also just the ticket: Have an ace day with your dad at the Liverpool Hope International Tennis Tournament where he can see legends like Barry Cowan, the British player who took Pete Sampras to five sets at Wimbledon in 2001, compete again. Or there’ll be fast and furious cricket (yes, you read that correctly) when the NatWest T20 Blast kicks off in July. Because these fixtures are shorter it means they offer more explosive play – and there’s a party atmosphere both on and off the pitch.
Allow him to be a drama king for the day
Looking for some great shows to see with your dad? The Book of Mormon is one of the hottest tickets in the West End. Created by South Park’s Matt Stone and Trey Parker, this offbeat musical about a couple of young missionaries will have him in fits of laughter. With nine Tony Awards under its belt, The Book of Mormon is also surprisingly touching and sure to make believers out of you both. Amen!
Also just the ticket: Bat Out of Hell the Musical recently opened at the London Coliseum and has everything your dad loves. Not only is it based on Meat Loaf’s classic rock songs, but this epic fantasy will transport him to a post-cataclysmic city where motorcycles roar around. Or tickle dad’s funny bone with The Play That Goes Wrong. Amidst a series of acting mishaps and a stage that’s falling apart, the cast putting on this 1920s murder mystery is infectiously funny.
Let him get silly and LOL to his favourite comedians
Never underestimate the power of a good laugh. It’s the best thing you can give your dad. Cockney comedian Micky Flanagan begins a UK arena tour this autumn. Having cemented his reputation as one of the superstars of British stand-up, Flanagan’s stories about his working-class upbringing will make your dad laugh so hard, he just may cry.
Also just the ticket: Grab a seat on John Bishop’s Winging It UK tour. The comedian is a family man, just like your dad, and his humour spans generations. Interested about life in the cycling lane? Go on ride with journalist and TV presenter Ned Boulting through the hilarious world of Bikeology. Or see leather jacket-clad Nick Helm get recklessly wild on stage as he performs a mix of songs, sketches, stunts, poetry and whatever else he can manage in his upcoming tour, There Is Nothing You Can Do to Me That I Haven’t Already Done to Myself.
Take him to a concert to listen to some sweet tuneage
Your dad has superb taste in music – or at least he thinks he does. And you can’t deny that his favourite singers have stood the test of time. So treat him to a blast from his past by going to hear five-time Grammy-winning artist Christopher Cross belt out hits from 1980 like Sailing and Ride Like the Wind.
Also just the ticket: From boy band member to cool all over again, Robbie Williams is currently out on his Heavy Entertainment Show tour. Your dad is sure to enjoy the great mix of music he puts on which includes the occasional Take That number. Or show your father what love is by taking him to see ’80s synth-pop icon Howard Jones who’s still going strong with over 8 million albums sold worldwide and the retrospective collection Best coming out at the end of July.
See and do some curious and quirky things with him
Bring your old man into a new world of science. Held at ExCeL London this autumn, New Scientist Live will be packed with interesting exhibits in five featured zones that touch on all aspects of human life. For example, in the Cosmos zone your dad can immerse himself in the mind-boggling weirdness of quantum physics and the unimaginable scale of the multiverse. Warning: He’ll leave the show even more of a know-it-all!
Also just the ticket: Ask your dad what he could build with more than 2 million LEGO bricks, then head to The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes to check out incredible sculptures of Batman, the Joker and many more characters from the pages of DC Comics. The world of a super spy is on display at Bond in Motion. Among the 007 artefacts is an awesome collection of cars including an Aston Martin DB5 and Goldfinger’s Rolls-Royce Phantom III. Or for a truly unique night out take him to Rock & Roll Darts which combines the thrill of throwing darts with rock anthems and a live band called The Dartness.
For more inspiration visit our Father’s Day guide.
