Countdown to Father's Day
How many days until we celebrate dad?
Third Sunday of June - time to appreciate the old man.
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Father's Day
June 21, 2026
The Forgotten Holiday
Let's be honest - Father's Day doesn't get the same energy as Mother's Day. Dads are notoriously hard to buy for, and the holiday somehow sneaks up on everyone despite being the same weekend every year.
As a dad myself, I know what we actually want: time with our kids, maybe a break from being the one who handles things, and the knowledge that our family appreciates us. The tie and socks jokes exist because people genuinely don't know what to get.
Gift Ideas That Actually Work
After years of receiving well-intentioned but unused gifts, here's what dads actually appreciate:
🎯 Experience Gifts
Concert tickets, sports game, escape room, golf round, fishing trip. Something you do together is worth more than something that sits on a shelf.
🛠️ Quality Tools
If your dad is a DIYer or has hobbies, good tools last forever. But only if you know what he actually uses - otherwise ask what he needs.
⏰ His Time Back
Handle the lawn, take over the grill, let him sleep in. Dads often don't ask for breaks. Give him one anyway.
📝 Something Personal
A handwritten letter, photos from a family trip, a video message from the kids. Sounds cheesy, but we keep these things forever.
Activity Ideas
Father's Day lands in mid-June - perfect weather for almost anything outdoor:
Backyard BBQ
The classic. But here's the twist - don't make dad grill on his own day. Either learn to man the grill yourself, or go to a restaurant.
His Hobby
Golf, fishing, hiking, watching sports, woodworking - whatever he's into. Join him, even if it's not your thing. Your presence is the gift.
Nothing
Sometimes the best gift is peace and quiet. Handle the kids, let him nap, don't ask him to fix anything. Some dads just want an uninterrupted afternoon.
Quick Facts
- •Sonora Smart Dodd created Father's Day in 1910 to honor her dad, a Civil War veteran who raised 6 kids alone after his wife died.
- •$20+ billion spent on Father's Day in the US. Still less than Mother's Day ($31 billion), but the gap is closing.
- •Third Sunday of June - that's June 15-21 range. This year it's later in the window, giving you extra planning time.
- •Most common gift? Greeting cards. 72 million are given on Father's Day annually - second only to Christmas.