Father’s Day is coming up in a few weeks, and because the pandemic isn’t finished yet, chances are you’ll be celebrating it from afar (again). I’m close with both of my parents, so spending Mother’s and Father’s Day away from them wasn’t appealing at the start of the epidemic last year, but after seeing how much fun it was to celebrate them digitally, I’m looking forward to doing it again this year. While things aren’t as tight this year as they were last (it’s fine to have a socially distant outdoor event with Dad this year, especially if you’re both completely vaccinated), travel is still not recommended. If you don’t live close to each other, a virtual party is a way to go.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Facility
Sure, you won’t be able to visit a museum with your history-loving father. This is Father’s Day, and you can take him on a virtual tour of just about anything. Many museums, tourist destinations, and historical locations made video tours during the epidemic that are so fantastic, and you’ll almost think you’re there—ideal for a long-distance virtual date! Take Dad on a virtual tour of one of the country’s top botanical gardens, or trek the Great Wall of China from the comfort of your sofa.
Host a Wine Tasting Online
If your father enjoys wine, send him a beautiful bottle and a gift basket filled with delectable nibbles like charcuterie. Order the same bottle yourself, and then share a sampling through FaceTime. Sign you and your father up for a wine tasting subscription and schedule frequent virtual tastings together after Father’s Day.
Cooking as a group
If you’re stuck for Father’s Day gift ideas, couple his present with any virtual activity you want to conduct. Send him a new kitchen gadget or appliance and set up a virtual cooking date with him to let him try it out if he’s a gourmet (or wannabe foodie). My parents’ Chef iQ Smart Cooker ($199, Target) is a genuine luxury, but you can also couple your virtual cooking date with something more economical, like this Chefman Air Fryer ($40, Target). Try it with our quick and tasty Air Fryer Pickle Chips recipe.
Organize a Book Club
My father enjoys reading, so a new bestseller is usually a safe bet if I’m stumped for ideas. Send dad a copy of a new book he’ll adore for Father’s Day, and order one for yourself. (If you’re stumped, Target has many New York Times bestsellers.) Hold a virtual book club through Zoom or FaceTime once you’ve both finished the book, then let dad select the next book you’ll read together.
Flick
These fatherly films will make you laugh, weep, and appreciate the man you’re lucky enough to name Dad, whether you watch them “together” over the phone or on the same sofa. Father of the Bride’s basketball scene with Annie (Kimberly Williams) and her father (Steve
Martin) It still makes us cry. (For the record, so does that gorgeous Colonial Revival home!) Another favorite in the Country Living office is Tim Burton’s Big Fish.
Take on a Gardening Project
Some fathers are happiest when they’re playing in the dirt. Schedule one-on-one time with him to work on a project or with him and the grandkids (or plant dueling container gardens through video chat—he’ll coach you through it, as always). Following that, serve a garden-themed supper with seed packet place settings and terra-cotta pot saucers as table chargers. You can also send flowers to Kolkata or look for online flower delivery in Bangalore.
Make a Keepsake for the Family
Make a Father’s Day present for Dad that will endure beyond the celebration. A Story worth Subscription will keep him occupied until the entire family has been vaccinated, and it can then be transformed into a treasured family heirloom. The following is how it works: When you purchase the membership, you’ll be able to pick from 52 questions from Dad’s life that you’d like him to answer. Story worth will send the questions to dad once a week, and he will write or record his responses. The membership price includes a bound copy of all questions and answers, so you and your father may browse over the finished book together next Father’s Day.
Conclusion
Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 20 this year. Even if you cannot participate in traditional Father’s Day events this year, these creative ideas can help you make the day memorable for Dad. Turning his present into something you can do together is one of the easiest ways to celebrate from afar: Get him a book to establish a monthly reading club, or get him a new kitchen gadget and set up a virtual cooking date. Remember that this occasion isn’t only about honoring your biological father; utilize these ideas to honor other father figures in your life, such as stepfathers, granddads, and other father figures.
