Top 11 Things to Do for Father's Day in Los Angeles

Gawk at Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance

If your dad is a car buff, get him out to the Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance in Beverly Hills for Father's Day. During the Concours, the famous three-block shopping strip of Rodeo Drive will be closed off to display more than 100 specialty cars.

Every year there is a different theme, which can include luxury, classic, and racing cars as well as motorcycles of all kinds. The event usually takes place in mid-June (over Father's Day weekend) on the 200, 300, and 400 blocks of Rodeo Drive. The 25th anniversary of this event was in 2018, and to honor that milestone, an entire block was filled only with silver cars.

Have Cowboy Fun at the Autry Museum

The whole family can enjoy some cowboy fun at the Autry Museum Saturday and Sunday of Father's Day weekend, which offers guests a chance to pan for gold and enjoy guided tours. Also, Sunday at the Autry Museum is the Western Music Association Showcase, which features cowboy musicians and poets performing stories and songs of the West and the American cowboy.

The Autry Museum is open year-round and is dedicated to preserving the history, legacy, and culture of all peoples of the American West. Featuring artifacts from major events that shaped the history of California (and America as a whole), this unique museum is sure to delight any dad that's a fan of the western genre.

Ride the Fillmore & Western Father's Day Barbecue Train

If you're looking for a truly special adventure this year for Father's Day, you can take your dad on a two and a half-hour vintage train ride through Heritage Valley with an onboard barbecue on the Fillmore & Western Railway.

Your journey begins in Fillmore, about an hour north of Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Downtown Los Angeles, and advanced reservations are required to attend this special event. There are two train runs on Father's Day—one at 11 a.m. and the other at 3 p.m.—and your departure time and dining car will be assigned at the time you make your reservation.

Get Out of an Escape Room With Dad

For dads who are fans of solving puzzles and horror movies, there's truly no better way to make a memory than trying to get yourselves out of an escape room. Fortunately, Los Angeles has plenty of these interesting interactive attractions—from scary haunted rooms to some with a modern twist.

The Basement offers guests a chance to see what it's like to live through a horror movie while Maze Rooms offers 11 unique escape rooms across the Los Angeles Valley. Meanwhile, The Amazing Escape Room in Northridge has five non-scary rooms for up to eight people, and Escape Room LA is a year-round escape experience that's challenging and fun but not scary either.

Take a Road Trip

If your dad's not a fan of Los Angeles and the noise of the city, you can always plan to take him out for a little road trip instead. Fortunately, there's a wealth of choices that include Catalina Island, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Big Bear Lake, or a bucket-list golf day in Palm Springs.

Whether you decide to drive north along the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway or want to make the eight-hour drive up to Lake Tahoe in the eastern mountain ranges, you're sure to find plenty of beautiful sights to take in along the way. Rent a car or bring your own—either way, your dad will love driving with the windows down away from the crowds of Los Angeles.

Visit Walt Disney's Barn Museum

Father's Day coincides with the public open day at ​Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn at Griffith Park—which happens on the third Sunday of the month—and the weekly gathering of mini steam train enthusiasts at the same location.

The barn was Walt Disney's own creative space where he worked on his miniature railroad but was moved to the​ Los Angeles Live Steamers area at Griffith Park as a museum, which is staffed once a month by volunteers, including Disney veterans.

Whether or not your dad is a fan of Disney, he'll certainly enjoy the creative exhibits and the mechanics of the miniature steam trains on display.

Sail on a Tall Ship

If your dad has a bit of pirate or adventurer in him, a sail on one of the Southern California tall ships might make his day on Father's Day this year.

The Ocean Institute in Dana Point will be hosting its annual Father's Day Adventure at Sea aboard the tall ship Spirit of Dana Point on the Saturday before the holiday. First, you'll get breakfast on the institute's historic wharf and then you'll join the crew in handling lines and raising sails on a two and a half-hour trip at sea.

Get Arty at Pasadena Chalk Festival

If dear old dad has an appreciation for art, you could take him to one of the many LA art museums, or you could enjoy the festive atmosphere of the Pasadena Chalk Festival, where the sidewalk becomes the canvas for hundreds of artists.

Advance registration is required to participate, and a registration fee is required for first-time participants. However, the event is also free to watch and will take place on both the Saturday and Sunday of Father's Day weekend.

Bet on a Day at the Races at Santa Anita Park

Horse-racing affords some of the most exciting few minutes in sports as you wait tensely to see if your horse is first over the finish line. It's a good bet that your dad would love a day at the races at Santa Anita Park on Father's Day. Options include various brunches, including a whiskey-tasting brunch, or a trackside barbecue package. You can also get a barbecue package for the kids.

Play Trivia at a Bar

If your dad is the king of trivia and useless facts at your house, gather a team with additional dads and test his mettle against other trivia buffs on Father's Day. Teams of up to six people can compete for prizes at several Southern California bars on Sundays (and at other bars on other nights). 

Participating locations on Father's Day Sunday include Busby's West and Barney's Beanery in Santa Monica, Barnacles Bar & Grill in Hermosa Beach, The Garage in Ventura, Simmzy's in Burbank, The Oaks Tavern and The Woodman in Sherman Oaks, and The Nickel Mine in Downtown Los Angeles.

Take Dad to a Ballgame

Each year for Father's Day, the Los Angeles Dodgers host a special home game event called the Father's Day Catch on the Field, which invites dads and their kids to play with the professionals before watching them play a game against one of their rivals.

The baseball game and Catch on the Field event will take place at Dodger Stadium, which is located just north of Chinatown between Echo Park and Montecito Heights in Elysian Park. Tickets are required to attend the game but discounts are available for the holiday event.