No necktie, toolbox or funny card can even come close to expressing the love and gratitude that your father truly deserves. This Father's Day, surprise Dad with his own personal chariot: a limousine waiting to whisk him away. Plan an itinerary that incorporates his finest Chicago favorites, along with a few of the following festivals. These local events are perfect for a day of bonding and creating new memories, and with his own personal driver to take him from place to place, he'll definitely feel like a king on his special day.
Gold Coast Art Fair
Grant Park's annual juried art festival is a fantastic choice for discerning dads, even if they're not artists or art collectors. Live music, artist demonstrations, interactive art projects, and even a beer "oasis" guarantee that there's something for everyone to enjoy, but if Dad likes art, it's even better. Hundreds of world-class artists convene for this festival each year, and their work encompasses a variety of different mediums, themes and styles. Affordable prints mingle with masterpiece investments, so if something catches his eye, you might even be able to treat him to an impromptu gift.
Taste of Randolph Street
Treat Dad's taste buds to six whole blocks of menu items from Chicago's best restaurants while you enjoy live performances by indie rock legends. The West Loop's residents and community organizers throw this three-day event every year to raise money for their neighborhood, and it wraps up at 10 PM this Father's Day. Sponsors include big beer companies and craft brewers alike, and the flavors from local restaurants represent a huge variety of cuisines.
Green Music Fest
If your dad does his part to save the planet, take him to the heart of Wicker Park to celebrate all things eco-friendly. Father's Day is also the second and final day of the neighborhood's annual Green Music Fest, an event that combines live local bands with carbon-conscious vendors and family-friendly attractions. If your dad likes to reminisce about rock stars who fed off the crowd's "energy", take his love for music to a literal new level with a performance stage powered by the audience's stationary bicycles. Of course, quality time with the kids is what Father's Day is all about, so ask your siblings to join you for the adventure too. Admission is only $5 per person.
Festa Pasta Vino
Little Italy's biggest, most delicious festival always falls on Father's Day weekend. Whether your dad has Italian heritage or just enjoys a good plate of pasta, he'll find plenty to love at the Oakley Festa Pasta Vino. Enjoy live music, shop for hand-crafted merchandise, taste highly rated Italian wines, and sample food from Chicago's most authentic Italian restaurants. Who knows? It might even turn into an annual tradition.
With so many events and only one day to enjoy them all, reserving a limo is a no-brainer. Pontarelli's fleet includes a variety of safe, luxurious vehicles that can accommodate families of all sizes. Whether you're clocking some quality one-on-one time or inviting several generations, you have plenty of roomy, comfortable ways to get from one festival to the next.
