Top 11 Highlights of 2024 in Hershey, PA

Date: December 31, 2024

From coaster upgrades at Hersheypark and a historic luxury expansion at The Hotel Hershey to the 13th Hershey Bears Calder Cup and a record-breaking summer concert series at Hersheypark Stadium, it was certainly another sweet year in Hershey, Pa., in 2024! 

As we gear up for an exciting 2025, let's pause to look back at our top 11 moments in The Sweetest Place On Earth this year.

January 2024: Hershey Bears Teddy Bear Toss Set New World Record

Sweet, cuddly mayhem delighted once again in Hershey, Pa., at the start of the year. The Hershey Bears, the oldest and most decorated team in the AHL, collected 74,599 teddy bears and stuffed animals during the GIANT Teddy Bear Toss on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. This total surpassed the club's previous record of 67,309 collected in 2023 and set a new world record. 

April 2024: Hersheypark Debuted New Coaster Ride Experiences

Hersheypark amusement park opened for the 2024 season on March 29 with the debut of new coaster ride experiences on Skyrush and Comet. 

To widespread excitement, the Park upgraded its Skyrush roller coaster flight experience to first class with all-new seats and restraints. Passengers now board Skyrush from a reimagined station platform featuring an all-new paint scheme, lighting effects and custom soundscape, which were really well received in 2024. The investment in the high-thrill attraction provides coaster lovers with added comfort while experiencing the adrenaline rush they know and crave.

Coaster fans who visited Hersheypark in 2024 also got a chance to experience Comet from new custom trains. The oldest continuously operating coaster at the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania features trains with a three-tone blue color scheme and a glittering metal flake treatment.

May 2024: The Villas At The Hotel Hershey Opened

Phase one of The Villas at The Hotel Hershey opened Memorial Day Weekend 2024. The Villas offer an elevated luxury accommodation experience with all-new exclusive amenities in Hershey, Pa. Ten Villas feature 48 reimagined rooms with refreshed furnishings and unmatched amenities, including an all-new exclusive Concierge Lounge with food, drinks and activities, as well as daily Hersheypark tickets and One-Day Fast Track.  

Construction is underway on nine new Villas, which will take luxury and Hershey hospitality to new heights in 2025. This expansion marks the second-largest investment in the 90-year history of The Hotel Hershey.  

May 2024: ZooAmerica Unveiled New Mural 

Also in May 2024, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park unveiled a new floor-to-ceiling mural in the Admissions Building in partnership with the Milton Hershey School (MHS). The mural includes drawings and paintings of various North American animals done by 20 MHS Senior Division Students. Visitors to the 11-acre Zoo in Hershey are now greeted by beautiful artwork of owls, wolves, eagles, snakes and turtles, to name a few.

June 2024: Hershey Bears Won 13th Calder Cup Championship

The Hershey Bears became back-to-back Calder Cup Champions with a 5-4 overtime victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Game 6 of the 2024 Calder Cup Finals on June 24, 2024. The team raised the coveted Calder Cup in front of a franchise-record crowd of 11,013 at GIANT Center.

June 2024: Hersheypark Camping Resort Introduced Second Tiny Home

Hersheypark Camping Resort introduced a unique new accommodation for campers to enjoy in summer 2024 and beyond. In June, a second tiny home built by talented MHS students joined the campground's lineup of accommodations, which span from tent and RV sites to cozy cabins. 

The inviting 340-square-foot tiny home boasts a cabin-like aesthetic and sleeps up to five. It features a micro kitchen with a stovetop and refrigerator. Guests can gather for campground meals at a collapsible dining table indoors or at a picnic table on the porch. Other amenities include TV, air conditioning and heat, electric and indoor plumbing with a small bathroom and shower. Call 888-710-0917 to make a 2025 reservation.

Summer 2024: Hersheypark Stadium Hosted Record-Breaking Summer Concert Series

It was a historic summer at Hersheypark Stadium! The 30,000-seat venue celebrated 85 years with the longest and largest summer concert season to date. The 2024 Summer Concert Series featured 14 shows, including Morgan Wallen, Justin Timberlake, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Post Malone, Stevie Nicks and P!NK among other top touring acts. 

Summer 2024: Hersheypark Celebrated 50 Years of Hershey Characters

Summer 2024 marked the golden anniversary of Hershey Characters at Hersheypark. In celebration, a live summer show returned to the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre in mid-June for the first time since 2019. Guests were able to cool off during the summer heat wave while seeing Hersh and his friends perform on stage in HPTV Presents: My Sweet Life. 

In addition to the new show, Hersheypark is also the only amusement park in the world where guests can take a selfie with iconic candy brands. Sweet Greets were held at new locations throughout the Park this past summer, with surprise appearances by some older characters.

September 2024: Hersheypark Offered New Haunts During More Halloween Nights

For 25 days, including Halloween night, Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights offered five haunted houses, including the all-new Estate of Evil haunted house, three Scare Zones with the new Darkstone’s Hollow: Battle for Spring Creek scare zone, 50 attractions and dark coaster rides, Hershey’s Trick-or-Treat Trail and more - all included with a Hersheypark Halloween ticket. 

The eight-weekend event also featured exclusive culinary creations, including the return of the popular Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass, plus the new Avenue Of The Afterlife path with themed food and drink offerings, pop-up retail, live entertainment and the popular Dark Nights character meet and greet. 

November 2024: Hershey Sweet Lights Debuted New Displays and Theming Experiences

Outside of Hersheypark, Hershey Sweet Lights presented by PPL drive-through attraction was open nightly from Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. Among the two miles of fields and wooded trails, guests could see new displays and theming experiences in 2024, including three custom Hershey-themed displays depicting Wildcat’s Revenge hybrid coaster, Jolly Rancher Remix coaster and Hershey Bears hockey.

Other enhancements included 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 Forest boasting trees and light displays.

Also new this holiday season at Hersheypark, Santa and all nine of his reindeer were in the same themed location called the Mary N. Bright Airfield. Guests could visit Santa and mingle with Mrs. Claus and his elves in the Yule Lounge, see Rudolph and his friends relaxing in Hangar 96, enjoy family-friendly offerings at the Hot Chocolate Express and sip adult libations at Concourse Cocoa Bar. 

November 2024: Hershey Theatre Welcomed Premiere Engagement of Hamilton

Hershey Theatre hosted HAMILTON for a special two-week engagement in November 2024 as part of the 2024-25 Broadway Series of programming. It marked the first time that the award-winning show visited Central, Pa. 

Looking Ahead to an Exciting 2025

From the tallest Screamin' Swing in the world opening at Hersheypark in summer 2025 to expanded luxury offerings at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark and another incredible summer concert series at Hersheypark Stadium, it is sure to be another exciting year in The Sweetest Place On Earth. Find out more about why Hershey, Pa., is a top vacation destination for families, thrill seekers, live music lovers, foodies and more in 2025.