5 unforgettable, last-minute Father's Day ideas in Chicago and the suburbs
You've got a card, and, we hope, made plans for dinner.
But if you want to do a little more for Father's Day, there are plenty of places to go in the suburbs and city to make Sunday special for dad.
Here's a look at five:
1. Bet on a winner.
We mean, dad, of course. But a day at Arlington International Racecourse also gives you the chance to enjoy horse racing and place a few wagers.
Meanwhile, kids can enjoy a petting zoo, carnival games, hands-on activities, pony rides and more. A DJ also performs.
Gates open at 11 a.m. and the first race is at 1:25 p.m. General admission is $18 for adults, $6 for kids. See arlingtonpark.com.
2. Root, root, root, for the home team.
The Cubs are out of town, but you've still got three great options for a day at the ballpark with baseball-loving dads.
The White Sox take on the New York Yankees at 1:10 p.m. at Chicago's Guaranteed Rate Field, and the first 10,000 fans get a team golf polo shirt. What more could dad want? Tickets start at $10; see mlb.com/whitesox.
If you want to avoid the drive to the city, check out one of two suburban teams playing at home.
In Rosemont, kids and their dads can play catch on the Chicago Dogs' Impact Field from 11 to 11:45 a.m., followed by pregame autographs. The game starts at 1:05 p.m. Families can also snack on $3 bottomless popcorn and $3 bottomless fountain drinks. Tickets start at $9. For information, check chicagodogs.com/tickets/.
The Kane County Cougars, meanwhile, have a few hands-on choices as well before and after the 1 p.m. game at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva. Opportunities include playing catch, collecting autographs, listening to a pregame concert, running the bases, getting half-priced burgers and more. Tickets start at $9. See milb.com/kanecounty.
3. Picnic with Peter and Paul.
Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey - of the famed folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary - take the stage at Ravinia Festival's indoor Martin Theatre at 7 p.m. today in Highland Park. You can get a seat there or listen from the lawn. But plan to show up before the gates open at 4 if you want a good lawn spot and a place to picnic before the music starts.
Tickets are $35 to $45 for reserved seating, $20 for the lawn. Note: Prices go up $5 at the gate. Check out ravinia.org.
4. Take him for a ride.
A free ride, that is. The Fox River Trolley Museum Trolley in South Elgin allows dads, stepdads and grandfathers to ride for free with a paid children's fare. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 16, and dads get a free treat as well. Other fares are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 65 and older, $2 for kids 3-11, and free for kids younger than 3. All-day passes are $8. See foxtrolley.org.
5. Celebrate a different kind of father.
Yes, Alexander Hamilton had kids of his own, but he's best known as one of America's Founding Fathers and the nation's first treasury secretary. The hit biomusical based on his life has been in Chicago for almost three years, and if dad hasn't seen it, now's a great time. After all, Broadway in Chicago recently announced the show will close in January.
It's at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago, and ticket prices vary for the 2 p.m. matinee. Get additional details at broadwayinchicago.com.