Make this Father's Day Spectacular! Try something new
to show Dad how much thought went into your celebration.
Treat Dad Like the Hero He Is
(FeatureSource) The original male influence in our lives
is our father. On the third Sunday of every June, he
gets a special day to call his own. Many people believe
that a quiet, intimate acknowledgement is all that dad
wants.
"Your father would probably love a party in his honor,"
says Patty Sachs, author of Pick-A-Party: The
Big Book of Party Themes and Occasions and The
Pick-A-Party Cookbook: Menus, Recipes and Serving
Suggestions for 101 Theme Parties (Meadowbrook
Press).
"You could invite siblings, or family and friends who
think of your dad as a father figure," Sachs says. "Of
course, another idea is to have your friends bring their
own dads along -- to make it a group celebration of
fatherhood."
Sachs says that whether your father is the sole focus or
one of many dads being celebrated, the first step is to
send out clever invitations. A good way to capture
attention is to print the party information on tags
attached to thrift-store neckties. Then mail the ties
out.
If your father is the only honoree, decorate with
pictures of him. Blow up some favorite photos and hang
them on the wall. If other fathers will be acknowledged
during the party, ask their children to send pictures in
advance so you can display them.
To build upon the theme of fathers as heroes, use
plastic replicas of the Batmobile as hors devours bowls.
You could also place Superman or Spider-Man figures
around the party site to accent the comparison or just
to provide conversation pieces.
When your guests arrive, serve them Dad's Root Beer or
whatever your father thinks is appropriate. For once,
let him make the call.
Snacks should be basic fare -- the kind of things that
dads like. But don't be afraid to take a stand on the
main course. This is because nothing beats hero
sandwiches for tasty symbolism.
When the party is in full swing, gather your guests
together. Ask each of them to tell a favorite humorous
anecdote about your father. Again, if other dads are
present, have each child talk about his or her father.
You could even have the guests of honor -- the fathers
themselves -- tell stories about their old dads.
Then present the gifts that your guests have brought. If
there are multiple dads present, the gift-giving will
snowball into a joyous highlight. In any case, make sure
that at least a couple of gag gifts are among the
tributes.
After the gifts have been presented and the best stories
told, have your father say a few words. Any other dads
should feel free to speak up too, because it is their
day as well.
Then send your guests home with fond memories of a great
day. Perhaps on their journeys back, they will reflect
on the presence on the original hero in their lives:
their fathers.
These and other hints come from Sachs' Pick-A-Party
and The Pick-A-Party Cookbook, which offer
celebration tips for almost every holiday or event.
Enjoy your Father's Day Party
and celebrate everyday!
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