But, let's face it, a lot do.

Sunday is Father's Day and what a day it promises to be. The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a sunny day with light winds and a top temperature of a 17 degrees.

So once dad has unwrapped his third pair of socks it might be time to do something he really likes.

Top of the list for many may be Mechanica.

Eighty hot rods, modifieds, classics, motorcycles and muscle cars all under the one roof at the Ballarat Exhibition Centre in Wendouree, and that's not all. With a host of car lovers likely to descend on the show with their own pieces of automotive art, there may be just as much to see in the car park as there is in the building itself. Grab Saturday's edition of The Courier for a full run-down.

Ballarat hot rod builder Ken Clarke said there weren't too many places he would rather be on Father's Day than surrounded by hundreds of spectacular automobiles.

He was hopeful of dragging his own father along too although, as a father himself, that may prove a challenge.

"My father (John) and I are restoring a 1938 Buick together, so we do share a love of cars," Mr Clarke said.

"I'll be there (at Mechanica) and I'll try to get dad along as well, but he's also got grandkids to consider. I'm sure they'll want a bit of his attention."

For dads who are Port Adelaide and Richmond supporters, the big screen might be their preferred place to be on Sunday afternoon. For those who don't have a side in the finals there may be a satisfactory alternative: a couple of country footy finals at Eastern Oval (Redan versus Darley) and Dunnstown (Waubra against Springbank).

Other dads looking for something quieter may prefer the Memories of Wartime Ballarat exhibition at the Gold Museum adjacent to Sovereign Hill, including a display of vintage and classic cars from the era.

As for a "bevo", Jack Simic of Jack's Cellarbrations on Sturt Street said wine had become the drop of choice on Fathers' Day rather than beer.

"Definitely wine, more so than beer," he said. "It might have been a bottle of scotch once upon a time but we're seeing it being wine now, especially red.

"They'll usually go up to about $30 a bottle whereas normally they might spend between $15 and $20. It's mainly shiraz. Pepperjack Shiraz is on special at the moment. Or a local one, something like Summerfield for under $25."

Seymours on Lydiard manager Chris Sargent said Father's Day was one of the year's busier lunch days of the year but sad to say for the dads, not the biggest.

"It is nowhere near as big as Mothers' Day," he said. "It's also a lot less organised than Mother's Day."

And remarkably, steak is not the number one ticket item on the day either.

"It's usually your regular lunchtime favourites," Mr Sargent said. "I guess if they're wanting steak they are at home on the barbie."