The 30-second answer
Sunday June 21. Four North York anchors, one free day-trip downtown.
We researched and confirmed every date, address and price on this page. The North York plan: K1 Speed at 75 Carl Hall Rd for go-karts (10 AM–9 PM, walk-in or book online); Father's Day 10K Walk + BBQ at Charles Sauriol Conservation Area (1191 Lawrence Ave E, 9:30 AM–1:30 PM, check Eventbrite); free fishing at G. Ross Lord Park (4350 Dufferin St, no licence needed all weekend); and dinner at The Keg (5015 Yonge St) or Daldongnae KBBQ (6034 Yonge St).
The day-trip: Yorkville Exotic Car Show on Bloor St W (noon–5 PM, free, 20 minutes via Yonge subway). Pair it with the TD Toronto Jazz Festival free outdoor stages — same neighbourhood, same day.
Things to do with Dad in North York
Four North York anchors worth the plan.
Two are outdoors and free. One is the only indoor kart track in North York. One is a culinary class the Friday before. June 21 is the summer solstice — the day gets 15+ hours of daylight. No excuse to stay inside. If Dad would rather eat than race, jump to our North York Korean BBQ and best-restaurants picks below — and note the FIFA World Cup kicks off the same weekend at BMO Field.
1
Top pick · Indoor go-karts
K1 Speed indoor go-kart racing
📍 75 Carl Hall Rd, Unit 9, North York (near Downsview Park)
Sun June 21 · 10 AM–9 PM
Call to confirm Father's Day pricing
North York's only indoor electric go-kart track — and arguably the most dad-coded venue on this list. K1 Speed runs adult karts reaching up to 45 kph and junior karts (min 48 inches, age 8+), which makes it a genuine multi-generation option: teen kids can race with Dad without anyone waiting on the sidelines. The track is climate-controlled, so the mid-June heat doesn't matter.
Regular sessions run weekends as walk-in or advance-bookable online (up to 7 days ahead). The standard 3-race promotional package runs on weekdays; weekend and Father's Day pricing should be confirmed by calling ahead. Groups of 10 or more should use the events line.
Worth knowing: Father's Day is one of K1's busiest Sundays of the year. Book online in advance rather than walking in — walk-in slots on busy Sundays can involve a wait. Adult minimum height is 58 inches; junior karts are 48 inches and up.
2
Community event · Outdoor walk
Father's Day 10K walk and community BBQ
📍 Charles Sauriol Conservation Area, 1191 Lawrence Ave E, North York
Sun June 21 · 9:30 AM–1:30 PM (arrive 9:20 AM)
Check Eventbrite for ticket price
A 10K group walk through some of North York's best green infrastructure — the Don Valley trail, the Bridle Path neighbourhood, Bayview Ave toward Glendon College and York University, and back to the conservation area. The community BBQ after is the reward. Entirely inside North York; the Bridle Path routing gives an unexpected glimpse at the neighbourhood's estate homes along the way.
Bring your own water bottle. The event is listed on Eventbrite — ticket price was not displayed in search results at time of writing, so check the listing directly before assuming it's free.
Worth knowing: The conservation area is at 1 Old Lawrence Ave and 1191 Lawrence Ave E — both addresses refer to the same meetup area. Arrive by 9:20 AM, not 9:30, to catch the group briefing.
3
Free · No licence needed
Ontario Free Family Fishing Weekend at G. Ross Lord Park
📍 G. Ross Lord Park, 4350 Dufferin St, North York
Sat–Sun June 20–21 · All day
Free — no licence required
Ontario waives the fishing licence requirement for all residents on June 20–21 — part of the provincial Free Family Fishing Weekend program. The closest North York fishing spot is the G. Ross Lord Park reservoir at 4350 Dufferin St. The East Don River corridor is an alternative for those east of Yonge.
No licence means no licence — but you still follow conservation limits. Carry ID with your name and date of birth. If you don't own gear, TackleShare loans fishing equipment for free at select participating locations — check ontariofamilyfishing.com for the nearest depot.
"G. Ross Lord Park is one of those places North York families genuinely don't know about until someone takes them there. The reservoir is quiet, the trails are flat, and on a June morning before noon it feels nothing like being in the city."
— North York Guide editors, on-site visit
Worth knowing: Go early — the park gets busy on warm June weekends. Combine with a walk along the West Don River trail, which connects through the park. Parking is available on Dufferin St.
4
Friday pre-weekend · Culinary class
Eataly Don Mills — Pizza Napoletana class
📍 49 Karl Fraser Rd, Don Mills (Shops at Don Mills)
Fri June 19 · 6:00–7:30 PM
$133.71 per person — book at eataly.ca
The Father's Day Edition Pizza Napoletana Class runs through Eataly's La Scuola di Eataly on the Friday before the holiday. Hands-on Neapolitan pizza-making with Rosso Pomodoro — wine included. It's 1.5 hours, it's practical, and it's the kind of gift that produces food at the end. The Shops at Don Mills location sits squarely in North York.
This is a Friday June 19 event — not on Father's Day Sunday itself. Frame it as the Father's Day weekend opener, then follow with an activity on Sunday.
Worth knowing: Book directly at eataly.ca/events/eataly-don-mills/ — this class has limited seats and Eataly events do sell out for holiday editions. Arrive a few minutes early; the school is inside the store.
The marquee day-trip
130 exotic cars, free admission, 25 minutes south.
The Yorkville Exotic Car Show is the rare Toronto event that needs no introduction to car-interested dads — and no ticket. Take the Yonge subway to Bloor-Yonge station and walk west. Road is closed to traffic, so the full Bloor St strip is yours.
Marquee day-trip · Free
Yorkville Exotic Car Show 2026 — 16th edition
📍 Bloor St W between Avenue Rd and Yonge St, Yorkville
Sun June 21 · Noon–5 PM
Free admission
130+ exotic and classic cars — Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin and more — displayed on a fully closed Bloor St W for 5 hours. The 16th annual edition. Red carpet treatment, live music, and it benefits Melanoma Canada. This is the kind of event where dads actually want to stay until the end.
From North York Centre subway station, take the Yonge line south to Bloor-Yonge station (roughly 15–20 minutes). Walk west on Bloor toward Avenue Rd. If you're driving, park north of Bloor on a side street and walk in — the road itself is closed to vehicles.
June 21 is also the start of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival — free outdoor stages run in the Yorkville area through the weekend. The car show and jazz stages are walkable from each other.
Worth knowing: Noon is the official start but cars are often in position by 11:30 AM. Bring a camera — organizers don't restrict photography. Food options are plentiful along Bloor and Cumberland St.
Where to take Dad for dinner
Steak, KBBQ, and one French garden courtyard.
North York's Father's Day dining anchors. Note: Father's Day menus for 2026 had not been posted by most restaurants as of early June — call ahead or check the venue website in the days before June 21 to confirm any specials. Standard menus are reliable fallbacks.
1
Top pick · Steakhouse
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar — North York
📍 5015 Yonge St (Yonge & Sheppard) · also 1977 Leslie St (York Mills)
Reservations via thekeg.com or OpenTable
$$$ · mains ~$45–75
The Keg is the default Father's Day steakhouse call in North York — and it has two North York locations so you're not fighting for a table at a single room. The Yonge & Sheppard location at 5015 Yonge St has a rooftop patio and private dining rooms for groups. The 1977 Leslie St location (York Mills / Don Mills) is the quieter option.
Historically, Father's Day weekend features a 14 oz Rib Eye special while quantities last, alongside the standard Prime Rib and seafood starters. The 2026 Father's Day menu had not been confirmed on the official site as of June 3 — call (416) 733-2555 (Yonge) or check thekeg.com to confirm current specials and availability.
"The ribeye is properly rested and cut at the right temperature every time. Two visits across both North York locations — the Sheppard room is bigger; the Leslie location feels like a neighbourhood room. Both excellent for groups."
— OpenTable reviewer, The Keg Yonge & Sheppard
Worth knowing: Book early — Father's Day at The Keg is one of the restaurant's 5 busiest Sundays of the year industry-wide. Reservations fill 1–2 weeks ahead. The Leslie St location books slightly later than Yonge.
2
KBBQ · 4.4★ 3,071 reviews
Daldongnae Korean BBQ — North York
📍 6034 Yonge St (Yonge & Cummer) · also 5211 Yonge St (Yonge & Empress)
Reservations: daldongnaebbq.com · groups 7+ call or email
$$ · KBBQ à la carte dinner ~$35–55/person
North York has one of Canada's highest concentrations of Korean BBQ — and Daldongnae is the consensus anchor. Two Yonge St locations, tableside grills, premium cuts, and a full banchan spread. For Father's Day, the galbi short ribs and chadolbaegi (thin beef brisket) are the order. The Cummer location at 6034 Yonge St has 3,071 Google reviews at 4.4 stars — that's earned.
KBBQ is genuinely ideal for Father's Day groups: everybody orders differently, the meat is the show, and the format keeps everyone at the table without anyone staring at a menu for 20 minutes. Large parties of 7 or more should call or email reservations@daldongnaebbq.com in advance.
"The galbi at Daldongnae is the reason I keep coming back. The banchan is fresh, the portions are generous, and the service has always been attentive even when the room is full."
— Google reviewer, Daldongnae Yonge & Cummer (4.4★)
Worth knowing: Father's Day is not a special-menu event at Daldongnae — their full standard menu runs all year. Lunch AYCE from ~$25–30/person is the value option; dinner is à la carte premium cuts. The Empress location (5211 Yonge) is slightly smaller and quieter.
3
Fine dining · Michelin-recognized
Auberge du Pommier — North York
📍 4150 Yonge St (Yonge & York Mills)
Dinner: 10-course tasting ~$185/person · Table d'Hôte $65
$$$$ · Call to confirm Father's Day service
Auberge du Pommier is North York's flagship fine-dining room — Michelin-recognized, Oliver & Bonacini, housed in restored 1860s woodcutters' cottages with a French garden courtyard patio on Yonge St. The dinner tasting menu runs approximately $185 per person; Table d'Hôte lunch is $65 per person (confirm lunch is offered on Father's Day Sunday as standard Sunday service is dinner).
The 2026 Father's Day menu had not been posted as of June 3. Auberge typically offers a Father's Day special — call (416) 222-2220 or check aubergedupommier.com in the days leading up to June 21 to confirm details. The patio books fast for summer holiday weekends.
If you do one thing this weekend
Morning at G. Ross Lord Park, afternoon at the Yorkville car show, dinner at The Keg.
Fish the reservoir at G. Ross Lord Park (4350 Dufferin St) by 9 AM — no licence, no cost. Back by noon, take the Yonge subway south to Bloor-Yonge for the Yorkville Exotic Car Show (noon–5 PM, free). Return north for a 7 PM reservation at The Keg, 5015 Yonge St. Three distinct experiences, no car required after 10 AM, and the whole day costs whatever dinner costs. Book The Keg now — it fills 1–2 weeks out.
More Father's Day options
Beyond the anchors — worth the drive.
Three more options for dads who want ribs, premium KBBQ, or a golf round. None require advance tickets for the day-of options.
Worth the drive · BBQ
Toronto Beaches Rib & Beer Fest
Woodbine Park, 1695 Queen St E, The Beaches
$2 donation at gate · Kids under 5 free
Northern Heat Rib Series runs Father's Day weekend (Fri June 19–Sun June 21). Sunday hours: noon–7 PM. BBQ vendors: Kentucky, Texas Jack, Memphis Blazin BBQ, The Forge Bar-BQ, BIBBS, Bubba Lou's. Live tribute bands, Budweiser and Labatt products, Pelee Island wines. Leashed pets welcome. About 35–40 minutes from North York via Danforth.
Premium KBBQ · North York
Omiwol Korean BBQ — triple-aged short ribs
153 Yorkland Blvd, North York (near Sheppard & Victoria Park)
$$$ · à la carte premium ~$50–80+/person
The step up from standard KBBQ — Hwang-che Hanwoo (Korean Wagyu), triple-aged short ribs, wine pairings. Right pick for the dad who wants a premium KBBQ experience over an AYCE session. No Father's Day special menu listed; standard menu runs year-round.
Golf · North York
Don Valley Golf Course
4200 Yonge St, North York
City of Toronto municipal rates — book at toronto.ca/recreation
An 18-hole City of Toronto municipal course on Yonge St in North York — walking distance from the Yonge corridor and accessible by transit. Municipal rates make this the most affordable Father's Day golf option in the area. Book at toronto.ca/recreation; tee times go fast for June weekends.
West Toronto · Wrestling
Junction City Wrestling — "School's Out!" show
Rainhard Brewing Co., 100 Symes Rd, Toronto (near Stockyards)
General admission ~$25 · doors 2:15 PM, show 3–5:30 PM
All-ages live pro wrestling in a parking lot with craft beer, food vendors, and free parking. Kids 3 and under free. Not in North York — but distinctly dad-coded and the only wrestling show in Toronto on June 21. Eventbrite tickets. VIP ringside tiers also available — check Eventbrite for current pricing.
Quick comparison
North York Father's Day dining — at a glance.
All addresses are verified. All menus were unconfirmed for Father's Day 2026 as of June 3 — call ahead to confirm specials and current availability.
| Venue |
Address |
Format |
Price range |
| The Keg Steakhouse |
5015 Yonge St (also 1977 Leslie St) |
Steak + seafood; rooftop patio; private rooms |
$$$ (~$45–75) |
| Auberge du Pommier |
4150 Yonge St |
French tasting menu; garden courtyard patio |
$$$$ (~$185/tasting; $65 Table d'Hôte) |
| Daldongnae KBBQ |
6034 Yonge St (also 5211 Yonge St) |
Tableside KBBQ; premium cuts; banchan spread |
$$ dinner (~$35–55); AYCE lunch ~$25 |
| Nakwon Kisa KBBQ |
4895 Yonge St |
AYCE Korean BBQ; lunch deal is the value pick |
$ (~$18–22 AYCE lunch) |
| Omiwol KBBQ |
153 Yorkland Blvd |
Premium KBBQ; aged short ribs; wine pairings |
$$$ (~$50–80+ à la carte) |
| JOEY Don Mills |
1090 Don Mills Rd |
Upscale casual; 80-seat rooftop patio; brunch + dinner |
$$ (~$25–45 mains) |
| The Miller Tavern |
3885 Yonge St |
Pub-elevated; multi-level patio; heritage building |
$$ (~$20–40 mains) |
June 21 — three things at once
Father's Day, summer solstice, and National Indigenous Peoples Day.
June 21 is the longest day of the year — the summer solstice gives Toronto 15+ hours of daylight, which is unusually well-suited to a day with outdoor activities stacked back-to-back. June 21 is also National Indigenous Peoples Day, observed nationally with city-wide events.
National Indigenous Peoples Day · Downtown
Indigenous Arts Festival — Garrison Common at Fort York
250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto (Fort York)
Free · Family-friendly · June 20–21
City of Toronto official celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day — First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists; music, dance, storytelling, film; Indigenous marketplace; food stalls and crafts. Runs both Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21. Downtown location — pair with the car show if you're making a day of it in the Yorkville-Fort York corridor. Source: toronto.ca.
