Ditch the Grill: Why Spare Time Texas is the Ultimate Central Texas Father’s Day Destination

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21st, so you need to make sure your Daddy’s Day plans are in order. If the father in your life loves to have fun, I have the perfect place to go in Central Texas.

Spare Time Texas is the Ultimate Temple Destination for an Active Father’s Day

When Father’s Day rolls around, the celebration often defaults to a backyard barbecue or a gift that includes another pair of socks or underwear. This is 2026. It doesn’t have to be that way! The father in your life probably won’t be upset if you don’t buy him a ton of stuff, and you don’t have to. Give him a day full of the activities he loves all in one place.

Something for Every Father

It is a safe bet to say the father in your life likes either golf, bowling, baseball, arcade games or eating. My husband likes them all and I am sure there are many other guys who do as well. I am happy to tell you that there is a place in Temple that provides all these activities and more: Spare Time Texas. They even have a Father’s Day special coming up where Dad‘s play for free inside on Father’s Day!

For fathers who thrive on friendly family rivalry, Spare Time offers pristine bowling lanes and a VIP experience in The Pin House, a private 8-lane bowling alley. Each experience offers automatic scoring and bumpers, plus lane-side food and beverage service from the in-house restaurant and bar, Shakers. Bowlers in The Pin House get a comfortable lounge, large projection screens over the lanes, and, starting at 9:00PM on weekends, an exclusive 21+ adults-only atmosphere with black lights.

Tactical Action

Beyond the lanes, Spare Time gives fathers a chance to tap into their inner child or team up with their kids for high-intensity action. The venue houses a sprawling, multi-level laser tag arena packed with fog, strobe lights, and tactical obstacles—perfect for a fast-paced game of parents versus kids.

Arcade Nostalgia

Following the laser tag battle, dads can navigate the massive arcade floor, which bridges the generation gap by pairing cutting-edge virtual reality simulators with nostalgic, ticket-winning redemption games.

The New Father’s Day Backyard Experience

Spare Time Texas recently added a new feature to their “Backyard” experience: Mini Golf! This 18-hole course comes complete with benches to rest between holes and a soothing river running throughout the course. It even has a mini waterfall! I’ve played mini golf in the past, but this course is hands down the best.

Go Karts for the Speed Demon Father

If you’re feeling the need for speed, Spare Time Texas’ “Shaker’s Backyard” is the perfect outlet with a Go Karts racetrack! Races are 10 minutes in length, but new races start every 20 minutes during operating hours, so there’s plenty of chances to hit the track for your chance to take home the checkered flag.

Take a Wack with a Bat

As part of the “Shaker’s Backyard Experience”, check out the 8 top-quality outdoor batting cages! The batting cages are actually great for everyone whether the kiddos need batting practice before an upcoming game, or you want to work off that workplace frustration.

No Grill Duty for Daddy: Texas Comfort Food and Local Drafts

The ultimate selling point for hosting Father’s Day at Spare Time is that dad is officially relieved of grill duty. Instead of sweating over hot coals in the Texas summer heat, he can seat himself at Shaker's Bar & Grill, the full-service restaurant located right inside the facility.

Food and Drinks

The kitchen serves up a robust menu of classic American and Texas-inspired comfort food, ranging from hand-tossed pizzas and gourmet burgers to smoked brisket sliders and crispy wings. Simultaneously, the bar keeps a rotating tap of ice-cold local Texas craft beers and premium cocktails, allowing dad to truly kick back, unwind, and enjoy his special day without any of the cleanup. You can also match wits with the Table Trivia!