Celebrating Father’s Day in Cincinnati

Here are some unique ideas how to spend Father’s day this Sunday:

Go to an FC Cincinnati match
Your Cincinnati Reds will be out of town this weekend, taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates at 1:35pm at PNC Park. (Spend time together on Sunday and watch!) Instead, watch FCC take on the Richmond Kickers at 7:30pm on Saturday, June 16. Make a thing of it by grabbing late lunch and beer beforehand at Mecklenburg Gardens, a historic German restaurant and beer garden in Corryville. Join the march to Nippert Stadium with Die Innenstadt, an FCC supporters’ group, about an hour before kickoff. Tickets to the game start at $10. Buy yours here.

Imbibe in local beverages
If Dad is into craft beer, you must check out one of Cincinnati’s many breweries. A couple of scheduled events going on are Father’s Day BBQ Beer Pairing at MadTree,* Day with Dad at Braxton,* and Father’s Day the Swine Way at Swine City Brewing. Click here for a more complete guide to the local brewery scene (including where they’re located, recommended beers at each, the food situation, and whether it is dog-friendly) to find a brewery closer to you!

Enjoy a spa day at Ambiance
Dads need relaxation, too, and the perfect way to do that is to treat him to a luxurious spa experience at Father’s Day at Ambiance Nail Salon & Spa in Hyde Park. Even better: have a meal at a nearby restaurant—I recommend Arthur’s—before or after!

Hit the links
Cincinnati’s rolling hills and picturesque landscape lend themselves to many beautiful golf courses in the area. Get Dad a certificate to one of Hamilton County Parks’ seven courses, or make a tee time at a CRC course or one of Cincinnati’s many public courses. 

Have a picnic in the park
Pick up Eli’s BBQ and take it to one of my favorite parks in the city, Alms Park, a Cincinnati Park located in Columbia Tusculum, where you can watch the airplanes take off and land from Lunken Airport. Don’t live nearby or can’t make the trip to the city? Do similarly with your local park and a great local restaurant close by!

Get free admission to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Celebrate Father’s Day with the special men in your life by going to the zoo, where there are plenty of other dads, too! Dads can take advantage of free admission at the Cincinnati Zoo all day Sunday.

Buy Dad a shirt to commemorate his favorite sports team
Between Cincy Shirts, HOMAGE, FC Cincinnati Shop, Koch Sporting Goods, and The Rivertown Inkery, there are plenty of options to shop local for apparel and memorabilia for his favorite local team(s).

Additional ideas: Visit the American Sign Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, or Contemporary Arts Center; take a tour at New Riff Distillery; enjoy a beverage and food on a nice outdoor patio like Queen City Radio; have a delicious, inexpensive burger at The Root Beer Stand. Tip: Skip the crowds altogether and give a coupon or certificate to Dad on Father’s Day. Use your certificate for the museum, distillery tour, round of golf, or a Reds game at a later date.

Don’t forget that you can also shop local for a gift!

Featured image: Fairfield Greens South Trace Golf Course