Fathers come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities– and not all of them want a necktie for Father’s Day. Whether the father in your life is all about local history or whether he’d rather spend time adventuring outdoors, the North Shore has the events and destinations that make it easy to celebrate him this Father’s Day.
We’ve rounded up some ideas for making the day special for all kinds of dads:

The Country Gentleman
Bring Dad to Appleton Farms on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend for their own seasonal wood-fired pizza, local beer, wine and cider, local BBQ, and live music! Appleton will be slinging their famous pies which are not to be missed! Notch Brewing will be on-site serving up some beer, wine, and cider, with barbecue from Fat Belly Food Truck and sweet treats from Down River Ice Cream. Enjoy music from Orville Giddings and Dad Bod & The Father Figures! For tickets, click here. 219 County Road, Hamilton & Ipswich, thetrustees.org/event/440286
Two area farms – Smolak Farms in North Andover and Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury – will be holding strawberry festivals over Father’s Day weekend. Smolak’s event will include hayrides, live music, face-painting, and berry-picking. Cider Hill will also feature berry-picking and live music, as well as hayrides, food trucks, and hard cider. Complete information at ciderhill.com/farmevents and smolakfarms.com/strawberry-fest.
The Golfer
Hit the links with dad at one of the abundant public golf courses around the North Shore. Some of our favorites include Ould Newbury Golf Club, nestled scenically against the Parker River in Newbury; Beverly Golf and Tennis, with its challenging course layout and sloping greens; and Boxford’s Far Corner Golf, where three nine-hole courses let you customize your perfect 18-hole round.
Or take the little ones on a mini-golf adventure to Paradise Family Golf in Middleton, Golf Country at Richardson’s in Middleton, or Garden Golf at Nunan’s Florist and Greenhouses in Georgetown. No matter which one you choose, be sure to celebrate with an ice cream afterwards.

The Gardener
Whether your dad has a green thumb or just wishes he did, indulge his horticultural dreams with a tour of the gorgeously landscaped grounds at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich or the Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in North Andover. At Castle Hill, a 60-minute walking tour on Sunday lets visitors enjoy magnificent historic gardens and breathtaking ocean views. Reserve tickets. The expansive grounds at Stevens-Coolidge, which can be toured on Sunday, feature European-styled gardens planted in the 1920s as well as more contemporary beds installed during the recent renovations of the property. Reserve tickets.

The Outdoor Adventurer
Fathers who relish the great outdoors will love to join in one of the kayak outings off of Crane Beach over Father’s Day weekend. On Saturday, paternal paddlers can choose between a voyage through the channels of Fox Creek, a kayak adventure on the Castle Neck River, and a sunset paddle through the Crane Wildlife Refuge. On Sunday, there is another chance along the Castle Neck River, a sunset paddle, and a kayak-and-hike combination trip to Choate Island. Visit https://thetrustees.org/things-to-do/?_dates=2025-06-14%2C2025-06-15&_experience=outdoor-recreation&_activity=canoeing-kayaking. for details and registration.

The Brewmaster
Toast the father in your life with a local microbrew. Pick a favorite local brewery and settle in for a visit, or plan a pub crawl to taste more of what the region’s many breweries have to offer. Granite Coast Brewing in Peabody will be pouring Father’s Day tasting flights, the Brewer’s Table restaurant at Ipswich Ale will be serving up specials. Dad can catch THE NORTH HORDE: Armored Combat at Notch Brewing in Salem on June 15 or some acclaimed BBQ from the Rusty Can food truck at Silvaticus in Amesbury.
The Historian
The North Shore is filled with history around almost every corner. Take dad to Gloucester on June 14 for a Cape Ann Museum Walking Tour: Patriots and Privateers of Revolutionary Middle Street – a 90 minute tour in downtown Gloucester. More details and tickets. On June 14 in Salem the Peabody Essex Museum is running a Sinister Streets: Witch Trials, Murders and Literary Legends walking tour and a Brick by Brick: Salem’s Hidden Architectural Stories tour, more details and tickets.