2024 Guide To The Holidays in Hershey, PA

Date: December 9, 2024

The most wonderful time of the year is here! From millions of lights and signature hot chocolate to rides and all nine of Santa’s reindeer families can visit up close, there is so much to discover in Hershey, Pa., this holiday season.

Visitors to The Sweetest Place On Earth will feel like they’re in a scene straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, enjoying walks down the charming downtown streets lined with Hershey’s Kisses-shaped lights to sipping a Hershey’s chocolate martini by the resorts’ beautifully decorated fireplaces.

Sound magical? Then let's start planning your visit! Keep reading for a guide to all of the holiday fun happening throughout our sweet destination this season.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

Located in the heart of Hershey, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane holiday attraction is back with a unique blend of only-in-Hershey experiences for guests, including the most lights in Pennsylvania and the only place in the Northeast where guests can get an up-close look at all nine of Santa's reindeer. The seasonal event features more than 5 million twinkling lights including the dazzling NOEL light show with dancing lights along Spring Creek synchronized to Christmas music, family-friendly rides and thrilling coasters (weather permitting), photos with Santa in the new Mary N. Bright Airfield, Hershey Character Meet and Greets, signature hot chocolate and sweet treats, holiday shopping and more. 

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is open on select dates through Jan. 1, with daily operations starting Dec. 12 (closed Christmas Day); hours vary by day. 

Hershey Sweet Lights 

Just outside of Hersheypark, guests can enjoy the separately ticketed Hershey Sweet Lights presented by PPL Electric Utilities drive-through attraction while listening to holiday music from the comfort of their cars. The attraction features two miles of fields and wooded trails decorated with nearly 600 illuminated, animated displays. New for this year, Hershey Sweet Lights will feature three new Hershey-themed displays depicting Wildcat’s Revenge hybrid coaster, Jolly Rancher Remix coaster and Hershey Bears hockey. Other enhancements include a new arrival experience with festive food and retail bundles for purchase, an all-new Northern Lights region, additional uplighting in the Victorian Village and a reimagined attraction exit with a Candy Cane Village boasting trees and light displays. 

The attraction is open nightly through Jan. 1, 2025; hours vary.

Holiday Dining

Hershey offers delicious seasonal menus at more than a dozen unique dining venues, including casual coffee shops, late-night cocktails, family-friendly dining, four-star cuisine, and everything in between. 

Returning for 2024, The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio offers Holiday Spirit's Rooftop Bar, a holiday patio event with spiked hot chocolate for adults ages 21 and older, over-the-top hot chocolate for kids, tabletop s’mores kits and hot chocouterie boards. Enjoy all these sweet treats while overlooking the Hershey's Chocolatetown region of Hersheypark on all Hersheypark Christmas Candylane operating days. 

A Breakfast with Santa experience is also available at The Chocolatier on select dates through Dec. 24. Indulge in a breakfast buffet with hints of chocolate, kids' activities and holiday family fun while seeing Santa and a few of his elves. Space is limited, and reservations are required. 

Holiday Resort Stay 

Whether in deluxe accommodations at The Hotel Hershey or Hershey Lodge or in a cozy cabin, tiny home or RV at Hersheypark Camping Resort, a stay at an Official Resort of Hersheypark will immediately put you in the holiday spirit. Enjoy the beauty of the resorts’ stunning holiday decor while sipping hot cocoa in front of the fireplace at Hershey Lodge or relaxing in the poinsettia-filled Fountain Lobby at The Hotel Hershey. Gorgeous towering trees, often decorated with chocolate-inspired ornaments, make for beautiful backdrops for holiday photos. Guests can also enjoy seasonal menus at the resort restaurants, cocktails and holiday-themed resort activities.

On select dates through Jan. 1, holiday resort packages featuring deluxe accommodations, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane tickets and breakfast are available at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge. Campers at Hersheypark Camping Resort can book the Hersheypark Christmas Candylane Camping Package with accommodations and Park tickets. All guests receive Free Resort Benefits like front gate shuttle service and extra hours at the Park.

Check out our holiday guides to The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge and Hersheypark Camping Resort to help you prepare for a sweet stay.

Holiday Entertainment

It’s not the holiday season in The Sweetest Place On Earth without some holiday entertainment at the Hershey Theatre. The 2024 holiday entertainment lineup includes the following shows that will brighten spirits this holiday. Tickets are available at HersheyEntertainment.com.

• Dec. 11: Straight No Chaser “Top Shelf Tour” at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 14: Hershey Symphony Presents: Holiday Spectacular at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 15: Cirque Musica “Holiday Wonderland” at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 17: Leslie Odom Jr. “The Christmas Tour” at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 21-22: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet's “The Nutcracker” at Hershey Theatre

Seasonal Spa Treatments

Guests looking to relieve the hustle and bustle of the holidays can enjoy a moment of sweet relaxation with holiday-inspired treatments at MeltSpa by Hershey.  The all-new Cranberry Spice Collection is available through Jan. 1 and includes treatments like a Cranberry-Spice Massage, Pedicure, Body Wrap and more.

More Holiday Fun Around Town

Other attractions around town, including The Hershey Story Museum on Chocolate Avenue, Hershey Gardens and Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction, will also offer special holiday events and activities.

The Hershey Story

At The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue, guests can learn all about the life and legacy of our founder Milton S. Hershey, the town he created, and the lives he touched. Holiday-themed experiences are also available this time of year, including Whimsical Winter Crafts, where kids can make a wintery craft in the museum's classroom and holiday-themed Chocolate Labs, where you can learn about chocolate and make your own holiday-themed chocolate treat.

View the museum's event calendar for a complete listing of events and availability.

Hershey Gardens

The annual Christmas Tree Showcase at Hershey Gardens is a winter dreamscape of 10 beautifully decorated trees with twinkling lights; each tree is created by a talented local designer. Guests can also enjoy the 14-foot poinsettia tree in brilliant solid red and a stunning 8-foot bromeliad tree. Looking for the perfect family photo op? Guests can take a seat in the Comet roller coaster train car from Hersheypark fashioned as Santa's sleigh, pulled by who else but Comet, the reindeer! Plus, the Butterfly Atrium is decorated for the holidays, with hundreds of exotic butterflies from around the world flying amongst the tropical setting!

Additional holiday activities offered on select dates this season include Crafty Christmas Creations and Winter Wreath Workshops. The indoor tropical Butterfly Atrium will also be decorated for the holidays and is the perfect place to keep warm as guests view hundreds of butterflies from around the world. 

View the Gardens' event calendar for a complete listing of events.

Hershey’s Chocolate World

Hershey's Chocolate World, offers a FREE Hershey's Chocolate Tour and various paid experiences such as Create Your Own Candy Bar and Hershey's Unwrapped. This holiday season, guests can also create memories on select dates with HERSHEY’S Holiday Illumination, Cookies & Cheer with Mrs. Claus, Breakfast with Santa, Photos with Santa, Holly Jolly Trolley and Sweet Lights Trolley. Plus, check out the Hershey’s Holiday Chocolate House decorated entirely with Hershey's chocolate and candy. 

Learn more about Chocolate World's holiday events. 

Happy holidays. We hope to see you soon!