Father’s Day falls on Sunday 19 June 2022 this year – the perfect time to treat your dad to a Gloucestershire gift that he’ll treasure.
With an impressive selection of gift ideas from Gloucestershire businesses, spanning independent retailers to family day out destinations, SoGlos handpicks some thoughtful, local gift ideas for your dad.
Father’s Day at the Royal Three Counties Show
Treat your dad to a fantastic day out at the Royal Three Counties Show taking place from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 June 2022, with 6,000 animals to meet; exhilarating live entertainment from motorcycle stunts to parachute displays; and a brand-new food festival championing local produce.
There’s also the chance to enter SoGlos’s competition to win a family ticket to the show for up to five adults, with a personalised Father’s Day card delivered by the Red Devils.
Wood-cutting workshop at Painswick Rococo Garden
The colourful Painswick Rococo Garden is hosting wood carving workshops this Father’s Day, where practical dads can learn how to remove the bark and create a simple design on a piece of green ash.
Suitable for crafters of all ages and abilities, tickets cost £25 for one adult and one child on a shared carving table, with admission to the garden included, too.
Cidery tour with cider and cheese tasting at Dunkertons Organic Cider
On Saturday 18 June 2022, cider-loving dads can take a tour of Dunkertons Organic Cider in Cheltenham to learn how it creates its organic craft cider, see the presses and enjoy a sample of some of its award-winning brews.
For £25 per person, dads can enjoy half a pint of cider on arrival; a guided tour of the cidery; a taste of three ciders perfectly paired with organic cheeses; and a Dunkertons Cider glass goblet to take home. Cheers to that!
Father’s Day at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle near Stroud is welcoming Hogg’s Mobile Farm to its grounds this Father’s Day, with cuddly piglets and fluffy sheep to meet, a pig agility course and even a chance to race your dad in a pig herding challenge!
On top of all the fun going on outside in the grounds, the medieval castle gives history enthusiasts a chance to see the cell where King Edward II was held, Sir Francis Drake’s cabin chest, Queen Elizabeth I’s bedspread and more ancient artefacts, making for a fascinating family day out.
Tickets to Berkeley Castle cost £14 for adults and £7 for children aged three to 16, with children under three able to go along for free.
Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum membership
Outdoorsy dads will love receiving an annual membership to Westonbirt, the National Arboretum in Tetbury – getting free entry all year round, plus free entry for up to four children on each visit.
The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum offers gifted memberships from £40, with members also benefiting from earlybird booking for events like Forest Live and the magical Enchanted Christmas – and best of all, they’re helping to fund Westonbirt’s important conservation work and protect the arboretum for generations to come.
Father’s Day Lunch at Stroud Brewery
Pair a slap-up meal with some of the best beer in the county and you’re sure to have a happy dad – with Stroud Brewery’s Father’s Day Lunch promising just that.
Tuck into a two- or three-course meal, with starters including caramelised red onion and goat’s cheese tart or deep-fried halloumi with chilli sauce; a hearty roast for the main course; and banoffee cheesecake, brownie or summer fruit sorbet for dessert – with a free pint of Stroud Brewery’s Budding organic pale ale for dad.
Father’s Day on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
Show dad a steaming good time with a ride on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway this Father’s Day. Climb aboard a heritage steam or diesel train from Cheltenham Racecourse or Broadway and enjoy a glorious ride through the picturesque Cotswold countryside.
All-day rover tickets give passengers the chance to hop on and off at stations along the line, costing £25 for adults and £10 for children aged five to 15 and are available to pre-book online, to avoid ticket office queues on the day.
The Great British Food Festival at Sudeley Castle
Taking place on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2022, The Great British Food Festival at Sudeley Castle is a gastronomic day out for gluttonous dads.
With sausage, chilli and dessert eating contests on the challenge stage; foraging walks; cooking demos from the likes of Masterchef finalist Andrew Kojima; a dedicated barbecue stage; live music; and even kids cookery sessions offering a chance for little ones to whip up a tasty treat, Gloucestershire dads will be utterly spoiled. Sunday tickets cost £13.50 for adults and £6 for children.
Father’s Day at Go Ape in the Forest of Dean
Active kids will love putting their dads to the test on the high ropes course at Go Ape, with venues at Beechenhurst and Mallards Pike in the Forest of Dean offering high ropes, wobbly bridges and an adrenaline-pumping zip wire high up in the tree canopy.
There’s plenty more to do in the Forest of Dean, too, with gorgeous walks all around, not to mention the Superworm and Sculpture Trails at Beechenhurst and Gruffalo Orienteering at Mallards Pike.
Cotswolds Distillery Tour and Tasting
For fathers who enjoy the finer things in life, a Cotswolds Distillery tour and tasting makes for a fantastic Father’s Day present.
For £20 per person, discerning dads can take a tour of the distillery in Stourton, learn about how its award-winning spirits are made, see and smell distilling in action and sample a range of spirits and liqueurs. A bottle of Cotswolds single malt whiskey or dry gin makes for a great gift, too.
Gloucester Rugby kit
Give rugby-mad dads a chance to show their true colours this Father’s Day with some merch from the official Gloucester Rugby store, so they can start the new season in style.
With replica home and away shirts, retro jerseys, hoodies, bath robes and even boxer shorts, there’s plenty to choose from – with cherry and white striped gift bags to package everything up in, too.
Cheltenham Balloon Fiesta
With Motocross stunts, monster truck rides, fireworks and, of course, a host of hot air balloons set to take to the skies over Cheltenham, the Cheltenham Balloon Fiesta on Saturday 18 June 2022 offers a fun family day out on Father’s Day weekend.
Saturday tickets cost £6 for adults and £4 for children, plus a booking fee and are available to book online in advance. Balloon launches are weather-dependent, but there’s still plenty to see, do, eat and drink if the Great British weather lets things down, so dad won’t leave disappointed.
