Father's Day NYC 2011: Free and Fun Things to Do with Dad

6/12/11 - By Stephanie Ogozalek


Dads are all different. So for Father's Day, we've rounded up eclectic ways to celebrate the particular patriarch of your family.

Whether he's sporty, artsy or an overgrown kid, we've got plenty of ideas to choose from so you can make Sunday, June 19 extra memorable.

Read on for suggestions (all free or inexpensive) to suit every kind of dad. Happy Father’s Day!

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For athletes
Visit Bryant Park for a free game of ping-pong, or head to Randall's Island for miniature ($5-$7) or real golf (call for pricing). Marcus Garvey Park hosts the annual Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic (free to watch; must register in advance to participate $40-$45). Less competitive biking can be enjoyed on Governors Island or other relaxing city routes. There's also free kayaking on the Hudson River or under the Brooklyn Bridge, and canoeing in Crotona Park or on the Harlem Meer. And don't forget about bowling (various prices).

For music lovers
Skip the kiddie rock this weekend! Instead, enjoy the grown-up Scandia Symphony performing works by Scandinavian composers in lovely Fort Tyron Park. Or head to Governors Island to catch more than 50 punk bands on eight stages for the isle's annual Punk Island fest. The Harlem Meer Festival kicks off its season with the Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Quintet, and the River to River Festival features the annual Bang on a Can Marathon in the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center. Finally, SummerStage sponsors Brooklyn Family Day in Herbert Von King Park, starring dance troupe the Brooklyn Steppers as well as spoken word artists and deejays. All of these concerts are FREE.

For naturalists
We're always writing about ways to connect with nature in our urban jungle. On Father's Day, you can go fishing, take a hike, go bird-watching, or marvel at flora and fauna on a boat tour of the lake in Prospect Park, all without leaving the city (and all free or under $10).


For players
Get your game on at a special Father's Day edition of Watson Adventures the Secrets of Central Park Family Scavenger Hunt by searching for Stuart Little and completing other tasks ($24 for adults, $18 for kids ages 7-17). Or head to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, which is hosting father-kid competitions (think sack races and relay races) all day. Bonus: Fathers get in at the kids' price by presenting this coupon ($24 for adults, $19 for kids ages 7-17 and dads, $12 for kids ages 3-6). Over in Coney Island, watch the Brooklyn Cyclones take on the Staten Island Yankees ($8-$16). After the game, kids are invited to run the bases.

For additional options, check out the Mommy Poppins Event Calendar.