Treat Dad Like the Hero He Is

The original male influence in our lives is our father. On the third Sunday of every June, he gets a special day to call his own. Many people believe that a quiet, intimate acknowledgement is all that dad wants.

"Your father would probably love a party in his honor," says Patty Sachs, author of "Pick-A-Party: The Big Book of Party Themes and Occasions" and "The Pick-A-Party Cookbook: Menus, Recipes and Serving Suggestions for 101 Theme Parties" (Meadowbrook Press).

"You could invite siblings, or family and friends who think of your dad as a father figure," Sachs says. "Of course, another idea is to have your friends bring their own dads along—to make it a group celebration of fatherhood."

Sachs says that whether your father is the sole focus or one of many dads being celebrated, the first step is to send out clever invitations. A good way to capture attention is to print the party information on tags attached to thrift-store neckties. Then mail the ties out.

If your father is the only honoree, decorate with pictures of him. Blow up some favorite photos and hang them on the wall. If other fathers will be acknowledged during the party, ask their children to send pictures in advance so you can display them.

To build upon the theme of fathers as heroes, use plastic replicas of the Batmobile as hors devours bowls. You could also place Superman or Spider-Man figures around the party site to accent the comparison or just to provide conversation pieces.

When your guests arrive, serve them Dad's Root Beer or whatever your father thinks is appropriate. For once, let him make the call.

Snacks should be basic fare—the kind of things that dads like. But don't be afraid to take a stand on the main course. This is because nothing beats hero sandwiches for tasty symbolism.

When the party is in full swing, gather your guests together. Ask each of them to tell a favorite humorous anecdote about your father. Again, if other dads are present, have each child talk about his or her father. You could even have the guests of honor—the fathers themselves—tell stories about their old dads.

Then present the gifts that your guests have brought. If there are multiple dads present, the gift-giving will snowball into a joyous highlight. In any case, make sure that at least a couple of gag gifts are among the tributes.

After the gifts have been presented and the best stories told, have your father say a few words. Any other dads should feel free to speak up too, because it is their day as well.

Then send your guests home with fond memories of a great day. Perhaps on their journeys back, they will reflect on the presence on the original hero in their lives: their fathers.

These and other hints come from Sachs' "Pick-A-Party" and "The Pick-A-Party Cookbook," which offer celebration tips for almost every holiday or event.