It's time to celebrate the dads in our life. Father's Day in 2024 falls on Sunday, June 16, which gives families just enough time to plan the perfect day for the fathers in their lives. And even though holiday traditions are nice, why not shake things up this time with some creative Father's Day ideas from TikTok? We're not saying to get rid of a barbecue lunch or a morning spent golfing entirely; those are classics for a reason. But there are some fun party and gift ideas on this list that can help make this year stand out a little more for dad.
Whether he likes golf, grilling, spending time with family, relaxing, or eating a treat, there's an idea for every type of father. Keep reading to find the next Father's Day family tradition to start.
More from CafeMom: 20 Things Dads Actually Want To Do on Father's Day
Father's Day Basket
One of the most magical parts of childhood was the random gift baskets we’d get for holidays, and now we can bring that magic into adulthood. Fill a bin with Dad’s favorite snacks, drinks, maybe a new pair of shoes, and some grooming products. They tend to not buy those kinds of things for themselves, so now’s our chance to help them out.
Lego Portrait
For dads who love to build with Legos, the company has a mosaic maker set. Just purchase the set and upload any photo into the company’s system to be pixelated. It’ll give instructions on how to create a Lego version of that photo with the pieces from the set. Choose a photo of Dad with his kids for extra sentimentality.
Cute Art
Another fun piece of art for Father’s Day is this DIY footprint poster. It combines Dad’s foot with the child’s to honor the sweet message “Following in Daddy’s footsteps.” Put the picture in a frame, and a sentimental dad will cherish it as their little one grows up.
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Kids Pick the Gifts
Kids are so funny, and Father’s Day is a wonderful chance to let them use their creativity when buying Dad gifts. Give the kids a budget and let them pick a few small items, perhaps at a dollar store. Dad may get some peculiar pieces, but he’ll cherish the memories. Those who are worried about the potential picks can have some backup gifts on hand.
DIY Custom Cupcakes
TikToker @am0mda decorated cupcakes with photos and quotes from her father. She printed them out, taped them to toothpicks, and stuck them in the frosting. The end result is a fun, custom dessert that doubles as a conversation starter. Partygoers will love to see which quotes they get and to hear the stories behind them.
Mega Charcuterie Board
A supersized charcuterie board can fit all of his favorite grilled foods, veggies, dips, and snacks. Because charcuterie is usually just an appetizer, a mega board works better for anyone hosting an actual lunch or dinner. People can fill up on these items. Amazon sells extra-large serving trays that would work perfectly for this.
Themed Party
TikToker @ragincajunkt hosted a father-themed Father’s Day party. Everyone was encouraged to dress up like the dad of honor. Because a lot of fathers have signature styles, it’s pretty easy to pay homage to them. And if the dad has a good sense of humor, he’ll be totally flattered.
Hand-decorated Golf Balls
For dads who love golf, this gift is a fun way to get the kids involved in Father’s Day. It requires using permanent markers, though, so perhaps it’s best for older children or if little ones can be watched very carefully. Kids can color white golf balls with any design they’d like for Dad to use on the golf course. Maybe stay away from coloring any of the balls green or he could lose them in the grass.
Grilling Plate
This craft uses acrylic paint handprints and footprints of little ones to make a pretty serving platter. Although acrylic paint is usually nontoxic, it’s not food safe so the plate may be best for displaying condiments or buns that are still in their packages.
Scavenger Hunt
Not only will a scavenger hunt make Dad feel like a kid again, but his own kids also will have a blast helping him look for his presents. Hide a few paper clues around the house, and the memories practically make themselves. It almost doesn’t matter what the gift at the end is because the journey is just as fun.
Memory Book
This popular journal is a great way to have fathers write down their memories and stories so their families can fondly look back on them for years. The book is available on Amazon and is filled with writing prompts to help Dad document his life.
Hot Dog Bar
For fathers who love to grill, a hot dog bar is a fun way to make Father’s Day a little extra compared to a normal weekend barbecue. TikToker Mallory Hudson set out a station of buns, dogs, and a ton of condiments and chips for people to compile their own plates. That way Dad doesn’t have to assemble everyone’s food for them if he’s traditionally working the grill.
Painted Card
For the crafty family, this cute card is an imaginative option. Color the back of a photograph with pencil and trace on top of the image so the pencil lines rub off on the card, which creates to a cute sketch. We really could stop there, but TikToker @lovehardtraveloften took it a step further and painted in the lines. Watch the video for step-by-step instructions.
Spa Day
Rachel Schwab posted on TikTok that her family brought masseuses over for Father’s Day to treat everyone to a little spa day. That’s pretty extravagant, but instead of hiring someone to come to the home, sending Dad to a facial or a massage or some other pampering activity isn’t a bad idea. People tend to associate self-care practices with women, but men deserve to feel good in their skin, too!
Special Message
For any of us with a Cricut machine, an easy but sentimental gift is to have the child write a message for Dad in their own handwriting. Then, using the Cricut, print out the message and apply it to a mug, water bottle, notebook or whatever item Dad would be most likely to use. Every time he looks at his kid’s note, he’ll smile.
Present Tumbler
The tumbler water bottle trend isn’t going anywhere, so this gift is cool because Dad will get a useful item and a bunch of fun, smaller gifts inside the tumbler. This option is perfect for a father who won’t buy himself a nice water cup or who maybe needs a new one.
Printed Photos
Because we use our phones so much to take photos, most of our memories are stored digitally. Bring the digital to the physical world for Father’s Day by printing out some of his favorite family pics and framing them for him. He’ll appreciate finally getting to have some real photos to display at home or work.
Puppy Love
Don’t forget to honor the Dads who also have bonds with their dogs. In addition to giving gifts from us and the kiddos, we can have the family pup participate with this cute art activity. Place a canvas and dots of paint inside a plastic bag and put treats like peanut butter on top of the bag. As the dog licks it, it creates a one-of-a-kind piece of art for Pop.
