Father's Day In And Around Arlington

With nearly 17,000 family households with children in Arlington County, there are a lot of dads out there who deserve some love and appreciation this Sunday. Fortunately, there's no need to travel far in order to treat dad special this weekend.

Arlingtonians who don't want to stay close to home can start dad's day off right with a casual brunch at one of Arlington's many restaurants. Patios fill up quick on the sidewalks of Arlington, so hurry and make a reservation, or get in line early. Popular brunch destinations like or might be a good choice.

If your pops is the kind of guy who's already manning the grill by the time you wake up on Sunday mornings, then maybe a "Father's Day To Go" barbecue platter package from is a better choice than brunch. Harry's is offering special seasoned and ready-to-grill meats and tasty accompaniments (cole slow, potatoes, wedge salad) to help make dad's grilling plans a little less stressful this weekend.

You can order a range of different prepped and prepackaged meals (ribs, pork, rib-eye steaks) that feed as many as six people. Some orders require grilling, but there are microwaveable options for the dads who will be too glued to the U.S. Open to light the charcoal.

The deadline to order Harry's pre-packed Father's Day grilling meals is 5 p.m. today. Check out the official menu here, and give them a call at 703-243-9100.

Maybe dad is really, really hungry, but tired of traditional Americana fare, and wants something a little more exotic, maybe something a little more south of the border.  offer's a giant feast for only $29.99 -- a massive mound of food that features beef or chicken fajitas, three shrimp brochette, a half rack of ribs, guacamole, pico de gallo, rice and beans and fresh flour tortillas.

Once dad is good and satiated, he has plenty of options to work off those calories: hit the links, go fishing, boat tours on the Potomac. Or go enjoy America's national pastime. Head to Nationals Park for the Nats' third game of the Beltway Series against the Baltimore Orioles. The first 30,000 fans get a complimentary Nats road hat.

Maybe your dad is more of the sophisticated type, and beer, barbecue and baseball aren't exactly his thing. Take a drive out to the countryside for the Manassas Wine and Jazz festival. A entrance fee of $25 at the gate gets your dad plenty of wine tasting and some quality jazz all day long.

If dad wants to boogie, but he prefers bass and guitar to sax and trumpet, then get Father's Day started early, like the-day-before early, and head to the Columbia Pike Blues Festival, happening Saturday afternoon. It's a fun and lively street festival located on South Walter Reed Drive at Columbia Pike and is free for all.

Whatever you decide to do this Sunday, make sure you find a way to let dad know how much he means to you.

Check out Patch's events calendar for up-to-date information on other exciting happenings this weekend.