Your Father’s Day Feast Finder Filled With Fun Things To Do, Places To Go With Your Dad This Year
Father’s Day is June 16, will it be a special one for your dad? Dads are the steady but less sentimentalized parent — the sun in our sky that warms and gives life but isn’t thought about as often. Nonetheless, the presence of a loving father increases a child’s chances for success, confidence and resilience plus a sense of humor. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge showed support for it becoming a national holiday. However, it wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson officially proclaimed Fathers’ Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday in June.
Barbecue Blast
Denver’s Father’s Day BBQ Festival returns to Mile High Stadium June 14-16. Admission is free, but VIP tickets are also offered. Legendary pitmasters from Denver and around the nation serve BBQ along with live music from bands like the Hazel Miller Band, the Rick Lewis Project and My Blue Sky, a tribute to the music of the Allman Brothers. In addition attendees can enjoy cold beer and drinks, BBQ tutorials and demonstrations plus games and activities for the whole family. Last year’s event used 8,000 lbs. of ribs (3,500 slabs), 5,000 lbs. of brisket, 3,000 lbs. each of chicken and sausage. In addition, 600 lbs. of potato salad and 2,000 lbs. of beans were served. The 2nd annual event is adding new pitmasters from Kansas City, San Antonio, and New York City. Times are Friday, 5-8:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Information:dbbqfest.com.
Dine-Drink With Dad
The Monaco Inn Restaurant — the Valley’s favorite family gathering place on major holidays — is an easy choice for dad’s day serving classic and comfort food with indoor and patio seating. This informal family-run eatery with reasonable prices is the perfect spot to kick back with dad, the kids and grandkids. Featuring a Baby Back Rib Father’s Day Special plus a full bar serving creative cocktails and a large selection of wine and beer, it has been a lunch-dinner and watering hole hot spot for generations of residents. Under the direction of chef and co-owner Terry Vaidis, patrons can choose from traditional Greek fare plus American and Mexican specialties all weekend long. Information:303-320-1104.
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar with locations in Glendale’s CitySet off Colorado Blvd. and downtown in LoDo annually offer Father’s Day specials. Expect loaded Bloodies, Mimosas, Shrimp & Grits plus Crab Cake Benedicts. Crawfish Broils are also often offered at the LoDo spot. Information: 303-756-6449, LoDo 303-292-5767.
Café Marmotte, the classic French Bistro on S. Downing in Wash Park is one of the Valley’s best brunch spots, making it a great place to take dad on Father’s Day. This year’s Dad’s Day special hadn’t yet been released but one was offered last year. Information: 303-999-0395.
Hot Dad Music
The Juneteenth Music Festival on Father’s Day weekend in the historic Five Points neighborhood will be one for the books, June 14-16. Pop and R&B star Ashanti is this year’s headliner. She is the first female artist to occupy the top two positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously when Foolish and What’s Luv were at number one and two respectively.
The Jacob Jollif Band — the next generation of bluegrass supergroups led by one of the country’s premier bluegrass mandolinists — plays Daniels Hall at Swallow Hill on Sat., June 15. Featuring some of the most virtuosic and innovative pickers in the country, it is a rare, not to be missed performance.
Another musical blast for dad is Empire of the Sun playing at the Ogden Theatre on Colfax Sat.-Sun., 8 p.m. The Australian electronic music duo is a collaboration between Luke Steele of the alternative rock band The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of the electronic dance band Pnau.
Bits & Brews
Take dad on a three-hour food and beer adventure in the RiNo Arts District on Father’s Day, 2-5 p.m. Tour begins and ends from the Denver Central Market at 2669 Larimer St. You’ll visit five restaurants and try tasty local dishes with optional beer pairings. Dad can try wood-fired pizza, beer sausage, sushi-grade poke with ahi tuna and Mexican tacos from some of Denver’s top chefs.
Keep Track Of Dad
Get dad off to a great start at the Father’s Day Run in Stapleton’s Central Park Sun. June 16, 6 a.m.-noon. The 5K and 1-mile kick off at 7 a.m., the half marathon, 10 mile and 10K starts at 8 a.m.
Cars Drive Dad
Guys love cars and if your dad is one of those with an automobile obsession, consider taking him to the 15th annual Father’s Day Car Show at the Apex Center on W. 72nd Ave. in Arvada, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. This event, free to spectators, is a perfect outing for dad with cars, music, antiques, family activities and refreshments. Information: 303-467-5525.
More Dad Doings
Need more things to do with dad? Here are more options to consider for Father’s Day weekend:
• This year’s Stapleton Fresh Market kickoff is on Father’s Day, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Founders Green. It would be a fun way of spending the morning picking fruit, vegetables and melons with pop.
• If dad’s a baseball fan, you’ll be a big hit taking him to the Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres game at Coors Field. Game time is 1:10 p.m.
• Start the weekend with dad early by taking him to the Free Day At Four Mile Historic Park on Friday June 14. There are historic demos, a tour of the Four Mile House Museum plus Hay Bales & Tall Tales, noon-1 p.m.