The amount of time dads spend parenting has tripled since 1965, according to a recent Pew research report. And with that evolving role comes more chances to make some memories this Father’s Day.
This year, there are ample reasons to get Dad out of the house this weekend. And the opportunities extend beyond the cliche. Whether Dad is an artsy type, a sports fan or a geek of any stripe, check out the wide array of events we’ve compiled. And cheers, Dad.
DAD SAVES
Florida Aquarium (pictured right)
If Dad likes ocean life, take him to the aquarium. He gets in free with one paid regular priced admission. $27-$31, $23-26 for children, 2 and younger free. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. (813) 273-4000. flaquarium.org.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Dads get free admission with any paid admission. $17.99, $16.99 seniors, $12.99 ages 4-16. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. (941) 355-5305. sarasotajunglegardens.com.
Chihuly Exhibit
Dads explore glass art and see glass-blowing demonstrations for free with one paid admission. $19.95, $17.95 seniors, $12.95 students, 5 and younger free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 720 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 896-4527. moreanartscenter.org.
Dads Climb Free (pictured far right)
Race Dad to the top of a climbing wall, free with any paid admission. $18, $12 ages 12 and younger. 10 a.m. Sunday. Vertical Ventures, 116 18th St. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 304-6290. stpete.verticalventures.com.
Tampa Bay Automobile Museum (pictured below)
Dad gets in free with one paid guest to see more than 65 rare vehicles from the 1920s and 1930s. $8, $6 seniors, $5 youth, 12 and younger free. Noon-4 p.m. Sunday. 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park. (727) 579-8226. tbauto.org.
Henry B. Plant Museum
Fathers can explore the historic museum with or without a child. Free. Noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 401 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. (813) 254-1891. plantmuseum.com.
Glazer Children’s Museum
Dad gets in free with any paid child’s admission. $15, $10 ages 1-12, $12.50 military, first responders, educators and seniors. 1-6 p.m. Sunday. 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. (813) 443-3861. glazermuseum.org.
DAD EATS
Oak and Stone
Any dad buying food through Saturday gets a voucher for a free 40-ounce craft beer to be used on Sunday only. 1990 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 565-4064.
Chill Out and Grill Out
A free Father’s Day barbecue with Beyond Burgers, sausages and hot dogs. 11 a.m. Saturday. Nutrition Smart, 1821 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel. (813) 341-4444.
Postcard Inn
Take Dad to the beach for a free cup of coffee and doughnuts as he checks out a classic car show. Stick around for a barbecue ($8) and free use of the pool. 8 a.m. Sunday. 6300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. (727) 367-2711.
Busch Gardens
Celebrate Father’s Day at Busch Gardens and get photos with Dad throughout the park for $5 at select locations. Dad gets one free beer at the Father’s Day buffet at Serengeti Overlook Restaurant. Park admission required. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa. (813) 884-4386. buschgardens.com.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel
This one is for meat lovers. Sunday’s food specials include steak and eggs Benedict ($28 at Council Oak), prime rib ($45 at the Rez), surf and turf ($30 at Hard Rock Cafe) and baby back ribs ($35 at Rise Kitchen). Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. (813) 627-7625.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse (pictured right)
Treat Dad to a three-course brunch featuring crab cakes eggs Benedict. $48 and up. 10 a.m. Sunday. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. (813) 874-9463.
Gulf Harbors Yacht Club
Enjoy a full brunch, including a carving station and a free Champagne cocktail. $25.95, $19.95 members, $8.95 10 and younger. Reservations required. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Gulf Harbors Yacht Club, 3926 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. (727) 849-4559.
GameTime
Take Dad out for a $12.99 prime rib dinner and some games Sunday. GameTime, 1600 E Eighth Ave., Tampa. (813) 241-9675.
Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen
Dad gets a free beer with his bayou-style meal Sunday. 21 or older only. 1721 W Brandon Blvd., Brandon. (407) 960-2274.
Family Cooking Class
Kids can spend Father’s Day learning how to cook an easy meal with Dad. Dishes include marshmallow fruit salad, lemon garlic chicken, white cheddar broccoli and cookies. $50 (father/child pair). Noon Sunday. AJ’s Kitchen Drawer, 13974 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. (813) 328-4122.
Caddy’s on the Beach
Grab your seafood-loving dad and head to Caddy’s Treasure Island for a Father’s Day feast of all-you-can-eat crawfish, shrimp and jambalaya. $30-$35. 1 p.m. Sunday. 9000 W Gulf Blvd. (727) 360-4993.
The Wiseguy Kitchen Show
Award-winning chef Vincent Fiore stars in this Broadway-style comedy musical, a live cooking show and an Italian dinner buffet. Mature audiences only. $50, $20 show only. 2 p.m. Sunday. Bellissimo Venue, 13220 S Belcher Road, Largo. (813) 786-2011.
HEW Parlor and Chophouse
Dad gets a free beer with dinner Sunday at this restaurant in the restored Fenway Hotel. 453 Edgewater Drive, Dunedin. (727) 683-5990.
Largo Picnic
The women of the 50 and older singles club provide fried chicken and all the side dishes. Men, just come and eat. $3, men free. 1 p.m. Sunday. Shelter 5, Walsingham Park, 12615 102nd Ave. N, Largo. (727) 549-6142.
DAD PLAYS
Pinellas
Father-Daughter Dance
Includes raffles, a fashion show, dinner and photographs. $10, $5 child. 4 p.m. Saturday. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 1201 Douglas Ave., Clearwater. (727) 462-6119.
Museum Concert
The Marly Music Series pays tribute to Father’s Day with a concert by jazz pianist Aaron Diehl. $15-$25. 2 p.m. Sunday. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, 255 Beach Drive NE. (727) 896-2667.
Make and Take Crafts
Kids 12 and younger can make and take Father’s Day gifts while supplies last. 11 a.m. Friday. Safety Harbor Library, 101 Second St. N. (727) 724-1525. cityofsafetyharbor.com
Dad Bods Unite
Take your Daddy to Caddy’s to celebrate all things Dad. Friday features “Beards and Bourbon” with $2 bourbon specials and a Most Interesting Beard Contest. Saturday is Dad Bod Day with “Six Pack” beer bucket specials, a hairy chest competition and elimination games to determine the “Man of the Bar” for a $50 bar tab. No cover. 11:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Caddy’s on Central, 217 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 575-7939.
Clay Mugs for Dad
Kids make a personalized clay mug for Father’s Day. $25. 7 p.m. Friday. Morean Arts Center for Clay, 420 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 821-7162.
Brewery Market
Dad can shop the market and check out a car show and live music. Free. Noon Saturday. 3 Daughters Brewing, 222 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 495-6002.
Caddy’s Indian Shores
Live music, Frisbees for kids, Koozies for dads and specials on grouper tacos and margaritas. No cover (food and drink additional). 10 a.m. Sunday. 20025 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores. (727) 595-3172.
Daddy and Me Painting
Children work with their father to paint a one-of-a-kind gift. $20-$35. 2 p.m. Sunday. Shelter 12, Fort De Soto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde. (727) 552-1862.
Birdies, Brews and Barbecue
Gather the family and head to Sundial St. Pete to celebrate Father’s Day with music from Jariah Higgins, barbecue specials from Locale Market, lawn games for kids and a live stream of the U.S. Open on the Skytron screens. Free (food/drink additional). 4 p.m. Sunday. Sundial, 153 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 800-3201.
Hillsborough
The Great Father’s Day Race
Families can celebrate together on this 5K run with free photos, T-shirts and a goodie bag. Benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay. $25-$45. 8 a.m. Sunday. Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa. Toll-free 1-888-543-7223. tampagov.net.
Tampa Bay History Center
Raise a glass to Dad with a free souvenir pint beer glass and a tour of the “History by the Pint: Beer and Brewing in Tampa Bay” exhibit Sunday. Included with adult admission ($14.95). 801 Old Water St., Tampa. (813) 228-0097.
Networking
Fathers can gather with their families to eat and network with other fathers. $20, $30 two, $10 ages 4 and younger. 11 a.m. Sunday. Livy O’s Catering, 905 E Brandon Blvd., Brandon. (813) 494-0820.
Sun City Center Golf
An 18-hole tournament with a contest for hole-in-one to win a new car. A daddy-daughter dance follows. $65, $30 dinner-dance only. 11 a.m. Saturday. Freedom Fairways Golf and Tennis Club, 3932 Upper Creek Drive, Sun City Center. (813) 633-4653.
Tampa Golf Outing
Fathers can take their children to play nine holes of golf. Optional cart and mini lessons available. $25. Noon Saturday. Rogers Park Golf Course, 7911 N Willie Black Drive, Tampa. (813) 356-1670.
Princess Ball
Dad and daughters dance to live music by the Carrollwood Jukebox Big Band. $12-$18. 6 p.m. Saturday. Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa. (813) 269-1310.
Richard’s Father’s Day Family Walk
Families can join the 1-mile walk or 5K jog. Benefits Moffitt Cancer Center. $25-$30, 11 and younger free. 8 a.m. Sunday. Ulele, 1810 N Highland Ave., Tampa. (813) 248-3000.
Topgolf (pictured above)
Arrange for Dad and five guests to have a private golf bay for two hours of unlimited golfing. $75 (food/drink additional). 8 a.m. Sunday. 10690 Palm River Road, Tampa. (813) 298-1811.
