When is Father’s Day? In the US it falls on the third Sunday in June, and the next celebration is on Sunday, June 20, 2027. This live countdown helps you plan the cookout, order the gift and call your siblings before the weekend sneaks up on you.
A daughter’s idea from Spokane
Father’s Day was born in Spokane, Washington. In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd listened to a Mother’s Day sermon and wondered why fathers had no day of their own. Her father, a Civil War veteran named William Jackson Smart, had raised six children on his own after his wife died. With the backing of local churches and the YMCA, Spokane held the first Father’s Day celebration on June 19, 1910.
The idea spread slowly. Many men saw it as sentimental, and some thought it was a ploy to sell more gifts. Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge supported it, but it took until 1966 for President Lyndon B. Johnson to issue the first proclamation naming the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a law making it a permanent national observance. Dodd lived to see it, and Spokane still calls her the mother of Father’s Day.
When other countries celebrate
The UK, Canada, Ireland, India and many other countries also celebrate on the third Sunday in June. Several countries in Europe, including Italy, Spain and Portugal, celebrate on March 19, the feast of Saint Joseph, while Australia and New Zealand mark it on the first Sunday in September. If you have family abroad, check their date before sending a card.
Gift and activity ideas for Dad
- Fire up the grill and let Dad relax while someone else does the cooking.
- Plan an outing he will enjoy: a ballgame, a round of golf, a fishing trip or a hike.
- Give an experience instead of an object, such as a brewery tour or a class.
- Upgrade something he uses every day, like tools, a wallet or headphones.
- Write him a letter or record a short video message from the whole family.
Planning tips
- Three weeks before: book tee times, tickets or restaurant tables.
- Two weeks before: order gifts that need engraving or shipping.
- One week before: plan the menu and invite the family.
- The day before: buy the groceries and write the card.
Is Father’s Day a holiday?
Father’s Day is a national observance, not a federal holiday. Since it is always on a Sunday, most offices are already closed, and stores and restaurants stay open. Juneteenth, a federal holiday on June 19, sometimes falls in the same week, so check your calendar if you are planning a long weekend.
To stay on track, add Father’s Day to your calendar from this page or share the countdown with the rest of the family to plan a gift together. Want to count down to a different family moment, like a reunion or Dad’s birthday? Create your own countdown in a few seconds.