MINT HILL, NC – First celebrated in Washington state in 1910, Fathers Day began later and caught on more slowly than its partner, Mothers Day, which dates back to a meeting of mothers of Confederate and Union soldiers in the 1860s.

The idea of a day to honor all mothers caught on in the early 1900s – in part spurred by retailers, who saw potential for profit – and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it official, declaring the second Sunday in May a day to honor “that tender, gentle army, the mothers of America.”

The idea of a similar day to honor America’s dads was slower to catch on for a variety of reasons that may seem antiquated to today’s readers.  One florist famously surmised that perhaps fathers simply lack the sentimental appeal of mothers, and many men themselves scoffed at what they saw as feminine traditions of giving flowers and gifts, dismissing the holiday as a commercial gimmick meant to rob fathers themselves of their hard-earned money.

Nevertheless, in 1972, nearly six decades after President Wilson made Mothers Day official, President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making Father’s Day a federal holiday.  

Surveying the dads of Mint Hill, one trend becomes clear: if given the choice, many dads would like to spend the day simply hanging out and enjoying time with family.

“Just a good day,” says Don Jordan, Sr, when asked what he wants for Fathers Day. “Go to church and spend the rest of the day with my son and his family! Simple is best.”  “Not working,” echoes Levi West.  “Fishing pole in hand, little boy my side.”

If you do want buy dad a token of appreciation, we still have some ideas for you.

If quality time for your family means cooking out, consider buying dad some new grilling accessories or even a new grill!  Monroe Hardware stocks everything you need for grilling from the grill itself (they sell popular brands like the Big Green Egg and Weber) to barbecue sauces, rubs, and even a line of veteran-produced hot sauces.

For the avid griller, a Meater thermometer can be a great investment.  Meater is a wireless “smart” meat thermometer that allows you to monitor the grill from your smartphone or tablet, guiding you through every step of the cooking process to make perfect steaks, chicken, turkey and fish. 

If you’re looking for a cold beverage for your cookout, look no further than Pour 64.  With 40 rotating taps serving up everything from IPAs and blonde ales to porter and stouts, there’s truly something for everyone at Pour 64.  They even have a selection of sours, hard kombucha, ciders, hard ginger beer and hard seltzers.  Grab a growler or crowler of your dad’s favorite to take home, or purchase a gift cards and let him select his own pint or flight.

Maybe your dad would rather spend a day on the back nine than with a pint in hand.  “Spending the day with my kids,” says Ralph Dean Ferguson III when asked how he’d like to spend the day, “golfing or going to a baseball game, cooking out.”

Consider treating your golf-loving dad to a round at Olde Sycamore.  “Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation offers the premier golfing experience in the Charlotte, NC, area and is open to the public,” explains Gretechen Schindler.  “The course features four sets of strategically placed tees to ensure a challenging but enjoyable round of golf time and time again.”

Olde Sycamore’s prices range from $45-75 on weekdays and $85-95 on the weekends, which includes the round of golf and cart fees.  Olde Sycamore’s pro shop is also loaded with the perfect Fathers Day gifts for your loved ones.

Beer, golf, grilling, camping: you can’t go wrong with a classic.  But the best Father’s Day gifts are personal, taking into account what you know about your dad or partner and what he’ll enjoy.  “My husband is a comic/superhero fan, and we’ve made the Herocon convention downtown our Fathers Day tradition,” explains Jasmine Davis.  “It’s on Fathers Day weekend. We missed last year but plan to go again this year. The kids love seeing everyone dressed up and all the cool exhibits.”

In spite of early protestations over the commercialism of Fathers Day, economist estimate that Americans today spend over $1B annually on Fathers Day.  But remember, it’s time spent with loved ones that truly matters.  “I just want to spend time with my family,” says Greg Walk.  “Doesn’t matter what we do, as long as my son is smiling.”