CELEBRATE DAD THIS YEAR WITH AN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY

F A T H E R ' S D A Y Celebrate Dad This Year with an Outdoor Activity He Will Love

B Y J A K E D U R H A M

The celebration of fathers in the U.S. did not start as smoothly as most people would have guessed. Sonora Smart Dodd was one of six children raised by a widower who worked to have a holiday similar to Mother’s Day established for fathers. On June 19th, 1910, the State of Washington adopted the holiday.

The holiday went through several trial periods. During the 1920s and 1930s, a movement began that sought to do away with Mother’s and Father’s Day. Father’s Day was viewed as a gimmick for commercial gains. However, some retailers worked tirelessly to keep the tradition alive by devising efforts to make the holiday more like a second Christmas.

Retailers promoted items such as hats, sporting goods, neckties, golf clubs, and tobacco. By the end of WWII, manufacturers and retailers argued that Father’s Day should be a way to honor American troops and support the war efforts. In 1972, President Nixon issued a proclamation that declared Father’s Day a national holiday.

Today, most fathers enjoy spending the holiday with family and doing outdoor activities, whereas less than 16% of fathers prefer tangible items. This Father’s Day, there are many activities, events, and festivals throughout the state. Where to go and what to do is the most challenging decision.

LibertyFest

LibertyFest in Edmond kicks off a week-long series of activities and was acclaimed by CNN and USA Today as one of the top ten Fourth of July festivals in the U.S. There are numerous activities from parades, car shows, live music, food, and rounding out the festivities, fireworks. There is something the entire family can enjoy each day of the festival. Celebrate 50 years of LibertyFest beginning June 19th.

Oklahoma City River Cruises

Spend an afternoon on the Oklahoma City River, and book dad a Father’s Day cruise with Oklahoma City Cruises. See scenic downtown OKC, the historic stockyards, and the Boathouse District. There are several options and cruise times available. For those over 21, stay a bit later and enjoy the Cocktail Cruise.

The Sunday Twilight Concert Series

The Chickasaw Nation and The Oklahoma City Arts Council present The Sunday Twilight Concert series. The Sunday Twlightlight Concert series started June 5th and take place every Sunday through August 28th. Concerts are free and begin at 7:30 PM at the OKC Myriad Gardens.

Juneteenth Celebrations

Juneteenth coincides with Father’s Day this year. This allday, family-friendly event features live music, dance, and interactive murals. Event-goers can take in a performance by Grammy award winner Mya in addition to other performers, food, a car show, and vendors. However, OKC is not the only city hosting a Juneteenth celebration, and one is likely to find several around the state with a wide variety of festivities.

Oklahoma Brewers Fest

Attend Oklahoma Brewers Fest on June 18th at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Over 40 Oklahoma breweries participate in the event sponsored by the Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma. Attendees can select from more than 100 beers that have been exclusively released for the festival.

AAA Route 66 Fest

June 18th through the 19th is the AAA Route 66 Road Fest in OKC. However, the event runs an entire week in Oklahoma City and ends in Tulsa. Hear live music at the OKC Bennett Event Center and see performances from the Wise Guys, Tulsa Playboys, Jason Boland, the Stragglers, Rusty, Dusty, and many others.

For more information about these and other Father’s Day festivals, events, and celebrations around the state, visit https://travelok.com

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