Father's Day 2018 in Florida offered a wide variety of complimentary admissions, dining deals, and recreational activities for families looking to celebrate. Businesses across the state, from St. Augustine to Tampa and Miami, participated in honoring fathers with free offers, often requiring the purchase of another adult meal or a child's ticket. The promotions were concentrated in the hospitality and entertainment sectors, including museums, hotels, restaurants, and recreational venues.
The majority of these offers were valid on Sunday, June 17, 2018, though some extended throughout the weekend. Eligibility generally required the presence of a paying adult or child, and many deals were restricted to specific participating locations within larger chains. The following guide details the specific freebies and specials available across Florida during that time.
St. Augustine and Northeast Florida
In the St. Augustine area, the primary attraction offering a Father's Day promotion was the World Golf Village Hall of Fame. On Sunday, June 17, 2018, the venue offered free admission to fathers and their immediate families. The museum was open from noon to 6:00 p.m. and featured the opening of a new exhibition, "Tales from the Collection," during the Father's Day weekend.
While admission to the museum was complimentary for the family unit, other activities carried a nominal fee. Dads were invited to take a swing on the Challenge Hole, a replica of TPC Sawgrass's 17th island green, for $5.00. Regular admission prices for those not eligible for the free offer were $20.95 for adults, $19.95 for seniors, Florida residents, and military personnel, $10.00 for students ages 13 and older, and $5.00 for children ages 5-12. Children four and under were admitted free of charge regardless of the promotion.
Orlando Area Dining and Hotel Packages
Orlando businesses provided a mix of casual dining freebies and upscale hotel packages designed to treat fathers. Several chain restaurants offered "Dad eats free" promotions, while hotels presented special stay-and-dine packages.
Casual Dining Freebies
Beef O’Brady’s participated in the 2018 Father's Day celebrations by allowing dads to eat free with the purchase of an entree of equal or lesser value, up to a limit of $10. This offer was valid on June 17 at participating locations.
Tijuana Flats offered a specific menu upgrade for fathers. On June 17, dads received a free "Megajuana" upgrade, which included double meat and double cheese on their meal. The special also came with a free beer.
Firehouse Subs provided a coupon-based offer valid on Father's Day. To redeem, a customer had to purchase an additional medium or large sub, a side, and a drink. Upon presenting the coupon, the dad received a medium sub for free. This was valid at participating locations.
Hotel and Upscale Dining
Rosen Plaza Hotel offered two distinct ways to celebrate. The first was a complimentary Father's Day dining special. With the purchase of an entree of equal or greater value, the dad could receive a free burger and beer, a prime rib dinner, or an 8-oz steak dinner.
Additionally, the Rosen Plaza Hotel offered a "Dads and Little Ones Dine Free" event at Jack’s Place restaurant on Sunday, June 16, 2019 (Note: Source data lists 2019, but context implies 2018 timeframe). The offer provided a complimentary meal for the father with the purchase of an adult entree. Furthermore, two children could enjoy complimentary meals from the Kids Menu with that same adult entree purchase.
For overnight stays, the Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista offered a special rate of $74.99 plus tax per night for Father's Day. This package included one-night accommodations, bed and breakfast for two, two welcome drinks, and free scheduled shuttle service to major theme parks including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. The offer was valid for the month of June and required reservations.
Tampa Bay Area Entertainment and Recreation
The Tampa Bay area featured the most diverse list of freebies, ranging from aquariums and museums to bowling and boat cruises. These offers generally required a paying guest or a paid child's admission to grant the father free entry.
Attractions and Museums
- The Florida Aquarium: Dads received free admission on both Saturday and Sunday of Father's Day weekend with any full-price paid admission.
- Dinosaur World: Located in Plant City, the park offered free admission for Dad on Sunday with one paid child’s admission.
- Glazer Children's Museum: Dads were admitted free.
- Imagine Museum: Dads were admitted free.
- Henry Plant Museum: Dads were admitted free.
- Great Explorations Children's Museum: Dads were admitted free.
Recreation and Dining
- Game Time: This venue offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on entrees or appetizers. Dad received one entree or appetizer free with the purchase of one entree or appetizer.
- MacDill Lanes Bowling & Family Fun Center: Dads bowled for free on Sunday.
- Yacht StarShip Sunday Brunch & Dinner Cruise: Fathers received three free premium drinks during the cruise. The brunch ran from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with dinner from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Local Events
- I Love Father's Day 5k: Held at John Chestnut Park in Clearwater.
- The Great Father's Day Race 5k: Held at Al Lopez Park in Tampa.
South Florida: Miami, Palm Beach, and Broward
South Florida, including Miami Beach, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, focused heavily on culinary experiences and hotel staycations. The offers ranged from BBQ festivals to bottomless brunches.
Miami and Miami Beach
Meat Market Miami Beach offered a specific food special for the holiday. The chic steakhouse on Lincoln Road provided a BBQ Short Rib and Cheddar Burger with Onion Rings for $19.
1 Hotel South Beach offered a staycation opportunity featuring burger specials and beer pairings from Biscayne Bay Brewing Company. The menu included the Kiser Burger (wagyu beef, beer cheese sauce) paired with Kapitan’s Kolsch, the Blue Bison (bison patty) paired with a Saison Pilsner, and the Cuban Burger (wagyu beef, candied bacon, pulled pork) paired with La Colada Porter.
American Social Bar & Kitchen in Brickell offered a bottomless brunch. From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., guests could choose from bottomless house mimosas ($24.95), bottomless Belvedere Bloody Marys ($29.95), bottomless Chandon Rosé ($34.95), or $50 bottles of Moet. Signature dishes included Chicken and Waffles and Main Lobster Benedict.
Palm Beach County
The Butcher Shop in West Palm Beach hosted a three-day Father's Day Music Festival. On Sunday, fathers received a complimentary draft beer. The restaurant also offered a Father's Day steak special featuring rib-eye steak for two, sweet Florida corn, and loaded mashed potatoes.
The Regional Kitchen and Public House offered a Southern Brunch buffet featuring cornmeal flapjacks, fried chicken and waffles, made-to-order omelets, and desserts.
Rosen Hotels and Resorts
The Rosen Hotels and Resorts brand had a significant presence in the Central Florida section (Source 6), but the Jupiter Mag article (Source 4) highlights the Rosen brand's reach. The specific dining special at Rosen Plaza Hotel (mentioned in Source 2 and 6) is a recurring theme. In the South Florida context, the Rosen brand is implied to be a major participant in Father's Day hospitality, though the specific South Florida Rosen property details in the provided text are limited to the Central Florida Orlando locations.
Conclusion
The 2018 Father's Day landscape in Florida was defined by a blend of hospitality and entertainment offers. The most reliable freebies involved free museum admissions in Tampa and St. Augustine, often contingent on a paying guest or child's ticket. Restaurant deals ranged from "buy one get one free" concepts at casual chains like Beef O’Brady’s and Firehouse Subs to high-value upgrades at Tijuana Flats. For those seeking a more elaborate celebration, hotel packages at Clarion Inn and Rosen Plaza provided value-added stays including meals and transportation. Consumers were advised to confirm participation at specific locations, as many offers were valid only at participating franchise units.