What better way to appreciate the father figure in your life than with a unique, locally produced gift crafted by one of our talented Illinois Makers.
Father’s Day is that wonderful time of the year when we honor and celebrate the incredible dads, father figures and role models that have played a vital role in shaping our lives. Whether it’s your own father, stepfather, grandfather or a beloved fatherly figure, finding the perfect gift to convey your appreciation can sometimes be a daunting task.
Launched in 2016, the Illinois Made program inspires residents and visitors to discover the people, products and authentic experiences created by one-of-a-kind small businesses throughout the state, such as the ones featured in our 2023 Illinois Made Father's Day Gift Guide.
The Illinois Office of Tourism is dedicated to helping you navigate the gift-buying experience this Father’s Day while also providing you the chance to help support your local Illinois businesses. From hot sauces to custom signage, we have you covered with a carefully curated list of unique, homemade and meaningful finds featuring many Illinois Made businesses that you can shop for in-store - or online - and all in areas of the state.
Life on Mars Goods
Chicago
Every multi-functional and responsibly sourced item is handcrafted by owner, Jamie Ramsay, in her Chicago-based studio and is heavily inspired by classic rock and punk music and style. Give the eco-friendly, adventure-seeking father figure in your life a timeless and ethically sourced goody that’s sustainable, durable and shortens the distance between them and the natural world.
Recommendation: Field Notes Case with Notebook & Pen ($55) | Vegetable-tanned leather covers will protect your dad’s field notes and make his sketching or journaling even more special. Available online.
Gindo's Spice of Life
St. Charles
Commemorate Father’s Day with award-winning, handcrafted, fresh pepper hot sauces that are so much more than a condiment. Gindo’s Spice of Life hot sauces are designed to ignite creativity in the kitchen and bring flavor, aroma, color and more to your dad’s favorite dishes.
Recommendation: Gindo's Classic Hot Sauce Gift Box ($35) | Spice up your father’s life with Gindo’s classic 3-bottle box set. Available in-store and online.
Black Band
Peoria
Spirits are a classic gift for Father’s Day. This year, opt for an award-winning whiskey or gin from the certified organic craft distillery, Black Band. Produced from some of the best organic grains, Black Band offers the finest spirits available, brings distilling back to Peoria’s Warehouse District and will serve as the perfect gift for the spirit enthusiasts among our dads.
Ace Sign Co.
Springfield
Blending modern manufacturing with timeless craftsmanship, Ace Sign Company has built some of the most incredible signage throughout Illinois. Along with their museum, which houses over 85 historic signs including the famous “Sonrise Doughnut”, their philosophy is to build signs that inspire.
Recommendation: Custom Mancave Sign (Varies) | Spruce up your dad’s basement or mancave with his very own specialty sign. Call for a custom quote.
Fire Dept. Coffee
Rockford
Founded by retired firefighter and paramedic, Luke Schneider, Fire Dept. Coffee is a veteran-owned business that’s certified by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) and is dedicated to providing great-tasting coffee to everyone, everywhere. Their coffee is roasted locally in Rockford and will give your dad that much-needed well-deserved daily morning pick-me-up.
Recommendation: Coffee Subscription (Varies) | Coffee-minded fathers will perk up at the sight of a spirit-infused coffee subscription. Available in-store and online.
Dearborn Denim
Chicago
Find the perfect denim fit for the perfect denim dad. All of the jeans and denim finery at Dearborn Denim are carefully made using American materials to make comfortable and durable jeans that are hemmed to length for each and every order. Dearborn carries a wide range of waist sizes and inseams to ensure the best possible fit and to accommodate dads of all sizes.
Water Sweet Soap Co.
Edwardsville
Dads deserve a little at-home self-care, too. Using natural ingredients, Water Sweet Soap Co. offers a wide range of products including soaps, oils, lotions and more that are handmade and crafted with no additional preservatives. Now, your dad can experience what it means to “bathe clean” too.
Recommendation: Whisker Tonic ($15.99) | Up your dad’s grooming regime with beard oil made from natural ingredients. Available in-store and online.
Dinger Bats
Ridgway
Score a home run this Father’s Day with incredible, out-of-the-park gifts from Dinger Bats – where regardless of what league or level your dad plays, everyone can experience the same quality craftsmanship of maple wood that professional players merit.
Recommendation: Build Your Bat (Varies) | Bring out the professional in Dad with his very own custom signature bat. Available online.
Alton
One-of-a-kind pieces for a one-of-a-kind dad. At Mississippi Mud Pottery, Father’s Day gift shopping is easy for the artistic fathers among us with an affinity for timeless, classic gifts. Select from a variety of handmade pieces that are molded from natural clay materials and crafted right before your very eyes into creative, functional stoneware pottery.
Great American Popcorn Co.
Galena
Does Pop love popcorn? From Old Fashioned Caramel to Spicy Italian, your dad can have his pick from over 50 different flavors of fresh, homemade popcorn that are available in-store daily. The Great American Popcorn Company takes great pride in the quality of their popcorn and now your dad can take great pride in the quality of his sweet or salty or savory gifts.
Recommendation: E-Gift Card (Varies) | Let Dad choose and pick out his favorite flavors with a gift card certificate. Available online and in-store.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism (IOT) manages industry efforts that result in sustainable and significant economic and quality-of-life benefits for all Illinois residents.
Find unexpected ways to enjoy Illinois in this biannual inspiration guide that explores every corner of the state. Each issue offers a mix of travel stories, stunning photography and timely trip ideas that'll help you make the most of each season.