Celebrating Father’s Day in Lakeland – Gift Ideas, Family Activities, Weekend Freebies

We know all of our fellow Lakeland Moms love to find unique gifts for Lakeland Dads, and we’re here to help you think of the perfect gift for the outdoorsman, sports enthusiast, or music-loving guy in your life. We’re big on “experience gifts” that give dad an adventure to remember.

We’ve also got a list of Father’s Day activities near you if you’re looking for something to do on Father’s Day weekend (June 16, 2024), including Father’s Day Brunch, places offering free admission, or free food deals just for dad!

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Don’t miss all of our Summer Fun posts, including Things to Do at Home and Things to do with Kids this Summer in Lakeland.

2024 Father’s Day Events Near You: Lakeland + Polk County

Check Back for Updates – 2023 Father’s Day Events {LAST YEAR}

 Things to do for Father’s Day Near You

◆ In addition to Free Mini Golf for Dads, you can also play laser tag, laser maze, and a huge selection of arcade games at Family Fun Center.

◆ Take dad on a Drive-Thru Safari right here in Lakeland at Safari Wilderness Ranch.

◆ Book a guided kayak tour or canoe trip with our list of local rental options.

◆ Looking for a truly unique experience in Florida? Learn more about clear kayak tours.

◆ Swing for the fences at the indoor batting cages.

◆ Play a round of disc golf.

◆ Head to Off the Wall Adventures in Lakeland or Action Paint Ball in Winter Haven for a game of Paint Ball. Check for current Groupon Deals.

◆ Take dad for a ice cream or dessert at one of the 20+ places to get ice cream in Lakeland + Polk County.

◆ Plan a picnic and a nature hike at Circle B Bar Reserve! Be sure you pack a tablecloth, napkins/paper towels, utensils, food, drinks, and wear walking shoes to explore the trails after you eat.

◆ Hike, bike, picnic, canoe, kayak, or fish at Colt Creek State Park in the heart of the Green Swamp Wilderness area north of Lakeland. In this 5,067-acre state park, you’ll find hiking trails, biking trails, picnic pavilions, and two lakes for canoeing, kayaking and fishing.  

◆ Use our list of family-friendly bike trails to find a paved bike path or mountain bike trail and go for a bike ride.

◆ Find a great place for a picnic in the Lakeland area.

◆ Go to a Baseball Game. The Lakeland Flying Tigers play here in Lakeland the weekend before and week after Father’s Day weekend.

◆ Get a strike at the bowling alley – save money with a Groupon for Bowlero (formerly AMF Lanes) in Lakeland. Incredibowl Entertainment (formerly Cypress Lanes) in Winter Haven and Orange Bowl Lanes in Lakeland are other local options.

◆ Catch a classic movie at our local drive-in theater – the Silvermoon Drive-In.

◆ Whether dad prefers retro arcade games, pinball machines, or the latest and greatest, these arcades in Lakeland and Winter Haven provide fun for the whole family.

◆ Go Ice Skating or Roller Skating right here in Lakeland.

◆ The Back Nine is a full service restaurant and premier golf experience with 3 Full Swing Golf simulators with access to 80+ courses. Multisport option allows you to play football, soccer, baseball, dodgeball, hockey, and more. {We went as a family to celebrate the last day of school and it was really fun! Plenty of options other than golf}

◆ See if your family can escape at Escapology Lakeland or Lakeland Escape Room.

◆ AX-Caliber Axe Venue & Coffee House has axe throwing, a virtual range, and Glow-N-Throw events. Stop by for great food and coffee and book a time for ax-throwing.

◆ Test your aim with a trip to the indoor archery range.

◆ We have a variety of movie theater experiences here in Lakeland and Polk County including IMAX, 3-D, D-Box motion seats, comfy reclining chairs, food and drinks during your movie, and more.

◆ Enjoy the outdoors and daily carillon concerts at Bok Tower Gardens, along with Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden. Dads usually get free admission on Father’s Day!

◆ Got a cowboy at heart? Make a family trip out to the River Ranch Rodeo on Saturday night.

◆ Go on an Outdoor Day Trip – Take dad swimming, tubing, hiking, kayaking, or canoeing. Central Florida favorites include Lake Kissimmee State Park, Alderman’s Ford Regional Park in Plant City, Lithia Springs Regional Park, Blue Spring State Park, Rainbow Springs State Park, Alafia State Park .

◆ Race at the I-Drive NASCAR Indoor Go-Kart Racing – snag a Groupon deal for the whole family (be sure to check height requirements, some tracks don’t allow kids and adults to race together).

◆ TopGolf sometimes offers Father’s Day Packages – book in advance for Tampa or Orlando.

◆ Other attractions in Tampa include Dinosaur World, The Florida Aquarium, MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry), and Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park.

Father’s Day Brunch/Lunch/Dinner Ideas

◆ Local breakfast treats can be found at Charlie’s Mini Donuts, Hole in One Donuts, Uncle Nick’s Bagels, Reececliff, and Fat Jack’s. Check our local brunch spots list for places to get Father’s Day Brunch near you.

◆ Head downtown for lunch or dinner – The Purple Onion, Bay Street Bistro, Black & Brew, or Mitchells are all great choices.

◆ In the mood for Italian? Scarpa’s Italian, Il Forno, and Palace are our favorites.

◆ Take dad out for a beverage at Swan Brewing. It is family-friendly!

Gifts for the Music Lover

◆ Get tickets for an upcoming concert – venues include:
RP Funding Center – Lakeland
Amalie Arena – Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Event Center – Tampa
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
Raymond James Stadium – Tampa
Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater
The Sound at Coachman Park – Clearwater
Amway Arena – Orlando
Dr. Phillips Center – Orlando
Camping World Stadium – Orlando

Gifts for the Outdoorsman

◆ Paddleboard Winter Haven – Book a paddleboarding trip on the Chain of Lakes. They offer lessons and tours from beginners, to advanced paddleboarders, families, and fitness enthusiasts.

◆ Airboat Tours – Have a real Florida adventure and view native wildlife on an airboat tour. There are multiple companies offering tours in Polk County, including Alligator Cove, Alligators Unlimited, Captain Fred’s, Grape Hammock Fish Camp, and Camp Mack. Most tours allow children of all ages, certain ages require an adult. Every child is different, and airboats are LOUD, so use your own discretion.

◆ Charter Fishing Trip – Go bass fishing with Big Bass Guide in Winter Haven. Prefer saltwater? Book a day out of Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg or Anna Maria Island. While we don’t have anyone specific to recommend, check Trip Advisor for a list of charter companies.

Other Gift Ideas for Dad

◆ Head to Lakeside Village for a wide selection of gifts from shops including Bed Bath & Beyond, Belk, Books-A-Million, GameStop, Golf, Etc., Jos A. Bank, Sunglass Hut and more.

◆ Arrange to have his car washed or detailed

◆ Find homemade items and local goods on Saturday morning at the Downtown Farmers Curb Market.

◆ Board Games – Surprise dad with games he’ll enjoy playing, and maybe even a few throwbacks from his childhood. Favorites at my house include:

• Uno Attack
• Scrabble Jr.
• Sorry
• Apples to Apples
• Yahtzee
• Monopoly Jr.
• Mastermind
• Battleship
• Sequence

◆ Ice cream maker – get a gift the whole family can enjoy for the summer!

◆ Lottery ticket bouquet – Does dad love scratch off tickets? Make him a bouquet (click to see photo).

◆ Candy Messages – Create a fun candy filled message, plenty of examples can be found on our Father’s Day Pinterest board.

◆ Quiz about dad – Have the kids fill out a quiz and print it out for him.

◆ Whiskey Bent BBQ Supply is the perfect place to find a gift for the dad who loves to grill. Find a pre-made basket of rubs, sauces, and grilling items. Or purchase a gift card and let dad go pick out what he needs.

◆ What I Love about Dad Fill In The Blank Journal – Give him an entire book completed by the kids

◆ For the avid reader, give a subscription to Kindle Unlimited – dad can enjoy unlimited access to over 1 million titles & thousands of audiobooks on any device. The best part is you get a 1 month trial to start with to be sure he likes it!

◆ Does he prefer audiobooks? Sign dad up for Audible – also comes with a FREE 1 month trial.