8 incredibly dad-friendly things to do for Father's Day

Father's Day may be a Hallmark holiday, but it also tends to come with food and free stuff. Here are some of the best events this weekend for families looking to celebrate paternity.

The Drexel Hill painting school Cooper's Color to Canvas hosts three back-to-back Father's Day celebrations. In the morning (10:30 a.m.- noon.), kids can help out Dad's style by painting neckties with him over soft pretzels and juice boxes. Next, there's Brushes, Bros, and Brews (1:30-4 p.m.), where attendees can paint conventional canvases over a "manly lunch" of soul-food favorites –– fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and potato salad. Bros can BYOB, but the event will also serve Cooper's signature Painter's Punch. The grand finale –– the Brushes & Bros BYOB Turn Up –– is an adults-only affair (6:30-10 p.m.). Bros, fathers, and friends can ring out the holiday with more Painter's Punch, finger food, and a full painting class.

10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, Cooper's Color to Canvas, 3720 Garrett Rd., Drexel Hill. Prices vary, 610-905-8020, www.colortocanvas.com.

Yin Ye, a recent Penn graduate and expert dumpling-maker, is ringing in Father's Day with a dumpling party and workshop at Five-Spice Philly, a dim sum joint in the heart of Chinatown. Yin was raised by her grandmother, an original dumpling savant, and will pass on her family secrets over dishes of Chinese appetizers. In addition to dumpling instruction, there will be chopstick lessons, and a competition to see who can most easily pick up a single, round pea. Each person will make roughly 10 dumplings (mix and match from vegetable and pork fillings), so bring a container for leftovers.

4-7 p.m. Sunday. Five-Spice Philly, 928 Race St., Philadelphia. $35 per adult and $32 per child in advance, $40 and $36 at the door, 215-352-4324, www.eventbrite.com. (Type "Dumpling Making Celebration Chinatown" into the search field.)

The Phillies' season has been a train wreck in slow motion. Still, when the scores go low, the promotions go high. The Phillies are throwing a pregame tribute for dads, and men 15 and older will score a free Hawaiian shirt. Buy Dad a hot dog and a cold drink and, together, hope for a win.

1:35 p.m. Sunday, Citizens Bank Park, One Citizens Bank Way. Tickets start at $22. 215-463-1000. www.mlb.com/phillies.

In an early Simpsons episode, America's favorite father, Homer Simpson, buys his blue-haired wife, Marge, a birthday present ––  a bowling ball with "Homer" etched on the side, dotted with holes for his fingers. This Father's Day, dads don't need excuses or fake presents –– they can skip the pretense and get straight to bowling at Revolutions. As a Father's Day special, the on-site Burger & Beer Joint restaurant is offering dads a "Simple Man Burger" and a choice of a domestic draft beer or cocktail for $10.

5 p.m.-midnight Sunday. Revolutions, 1009 Canal St. 267-348-0544, penntreaty.revolutionsbowl.com.

The exercise-inclined can start Father's Day off with a 10K or 5K fun run. The annual Gary Papa race benefiting the Foundation for Breast and Prostate Health starts at 7:30 a.m. (10K) and 8 a.m. (5K) sharp on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Too much exertion? Not to worry. Late-risers and the running-averse can show up at 8:30 a.m. for a 1-mile or 5K fun walk.

7:30 a.m. Sunday. Benjamin Franklin Parkway. $30 (preregistration), $35 (race day registration). 276-273-1706. www.garypaparun.com.

The dazzling Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, brainchild of avid car collector Fred Simeone, will give dads free entry when they come with a family member on Father's Day. This weekend, the museum will also open a temporary exhibit, "Mopar or No Car," through July 9, featuring 12 rare Chrysler-brand race cars from the 1960s to 2017 — two owned by ESPN analyst Ray Evernham, founder of Evernham Motorsports and recent NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee.

10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday. Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, 6825 Norwitch Dr. Free entry for fathers with a paying child. 215-365-7233, www.simeonemuseum.org.

Trekkie families can watch their favorite Spock and Kirk moments on the big screen. The Colonial Theatre's annual movie marathon returns, with three critically acclaimed Star Trek adventures –– Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Resistance is futile.

1:30 p.m. ("Wrath of Khan"), 3:45 p.m. ("Voyage Home"), and 6 p.m. ("Undiscovered Country") Sunday. Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville. Individual movies $10 adults, $6 children; full marathon $25 adults, $15 children. 610-917-1228, thecolonialtheatre.com.

Dads enter free this holiday weekend. Kids get their usual kick out of the T. rex skeleton, the butterfly garden, and the live animal presentations.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Free admission for fathers with paying child. 215-299-1000, ansp.org.