The grills were sizzling as some dads did some of what they do best at the 24th annual Real Men Cook event.
But as hundreds celebrate and honor fatherhood, the parents of slain teen Hadiya Pendleton remember her while Nate Pendleton makes a plea for dads to step up to help end the violence.
"Dads really need to start stepping up," he said. "We've got to start being seen."
On a day many fathers expect bad ties and other hideous gifts, some enjoyed a classic car show hosted by the Greater Illinois Region of the Classic Car Club of America.
Others marked the day in a more reverent way.
Fallen officers were honored at the Father's Day mass held at the Gold Star Memorial and Park.
"There's 562 names on the wall and the majority of them were fathers and a lot of their kids and spouses are here today," said Phil Cline, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.
Like Bethany O'Reilly, who lost her husband, a Chicago Police Department sergeant 10 years ago this year.
"We still remember them and they were real people, real dads," she said.
Just like Jim Mazza, who celebrated this Father's Day with a new family tradition, with his oldest son, Jimmy III.
"It's different than Mother's Day but it's good for dads all around I think," Jim Mazza said.
