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December
2022
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12:01 PM
America/New_York

2022 Guide To The Holidays in Hershey, PA

How To Celebrate The Holidays In The Sweetest Place On Earth This Season

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 hot cocoa or a Hershey’s chocolate martini by the resorts’ beautifully decorated fireplaces.

Sound magical? Start planning your visit today! Check out our guide below 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 the only place in the Northeast where guests can get an up-close look at all nine of Santa's reindeer, including Rudolph. The seasonal event also features more than 5 million twinkling lights, including the dazzling NOEL light show with more than 250,000 dancing lights synchronized to Christmas music; a unique blend of thrilling coasters and family-friendly rides, weather permitting; an experience with Santa; a new Hershey Character Meet and Greet inside the Music Box Theatre; TREEVILLE, a walk-through experience with more than a dozen decorated trees sharing the stories of The Sweetest Place On Earth; shopping in Hershey’s Chocolatetown; signature hot chocolate and other sweet treats; and more.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is open to the public on select dates through Jan. 1 with daily operations starting Dec. 2 (closed Dec. 25). Tickets purchased on Hersheypark.com are valid on any public operating day through Jan. 1, 2023. 

Hershey Sweet Lights 

Just outside Hersheypark is the separately ticketed Hershey Sweet Lights drive-through attraction that features two miles of fields and wooded trails decorated with nearly 600 illuminated, animated displays created from about 2 million LED lights. Guests can enjoy the lights from the comfort of their cars while listening to holiday music. Many displays follow unique themes like The 12 Days of Christmas, Fairy Tales, a Victorian Village and Hersheypark rides. 

The attraction is now open nightly through Jan. 1, 2023; hours vary.

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Holiday Resort Stay 

Whether in deluxe accommodations at The Hotel Hershey or Hershey Lodge or in a cozy cabin or RV at Hersheypark Camping Resort, a stay at a Hershey resort will immediately put guests in the holiday spirit this season. Visitors can take in 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 - a tradition for many guests. Guests can also enjoy holiday-themed resort activities and seasonal dining on property.

On select dates through Jan. 1, a two-night Hersheypark Christmas Candylane package featuring deluxe accommodations, daily Hersheypark Christmas Candylane tickets and breakfast is available at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge. Guests at Hersheypark Camping Resort can enjoy the Hersheypark Christmas Candylane camping package with accommodations and Park tickets. 

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 everyone’s favorite holiday entertainment at Hershey Theatre and GIANT Center. The 2022 holiday entertainment lineup includes the following shows that are sure to brighten spirits in November and December. Tickets are available at HersheyEntertainment.com.

  • Nov. 23: Alton Brown “Beyond The Eats - The Holiday Variant” at Hershey Theatre
  • Dec. 1: The Gaither Vocal Band “Christmas 2022” at GIANT Center
  • Dec. 3: For King & Country “A Drummer Boy Christmas” at GIANT Center
  • Dec. 4: Straight No Chaser “The 25th Anniversary Celebration” at Hershey Theatre
  • Dec. 5: Lindsey Stirling “Snow Waltz Tour” at Hershey Theatre
  • Dec. 17-18: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Presents The Nutcracker at Hershey Theatre
  • Dec. 20: Pentatonix “A Christmas Spectacular” at GIANT Center
  • Dec. 21: Trans Siberian Orchestra “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” at GIANT Center
  • Dec. 29: WWE “Live Holiday Tour” at GIANT Center

Holiday Dining

There is no better place to eat, drink and be merry this holiday season than The Sweetest Place On Earth. 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. 

Plus, on select dates, the destination’s newest restaurant, The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio in Hershey’s Chocolatetown, will offer a Breakfast with Santa experience and Holiday Breakfast with Hershey Characters. Families can enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet with hints of chocolate, kids’ activities and lots of holiday family fun during Breakfast with Santa on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 25 through Dec. 24 from 8-10:30 a.m. The Holiday Breakfast with Hershey Characters is available from Dec. 30 through Jan. 1 from 8-10:30 a.m. Reservations are required. Reserve your table

Seasonal Spa Treatments

Guests looking for sweet relaxation can relieve the hustle and bustle of the holidays with treatments inspired by the season at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey and MeltSpa by Hershey

The Spa At The Hotel Hershey resort spa is now offering a Holiday Season Sampler featuring three treatments filled with the sweet aromas of the season through Jan. 31. Starting Dec. 1, guests can also indulge in Peppermint Mocha and Peppermint Hot Chocolate treatments. MeltSpa by Hershey day spa in downtown Hershey will also begin offering treatments from their Peppermint Hot Chocolate Collection starting Dec. 1. Please note, availability at both spas is limited this holiday season.

Looking to give the gift of relaxation this Christmas? Both spas are offering sweet deals on gift card purchases through Dec. 24. 

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.

Little Elves Workshop Event at The Hershey Story Museum

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 the Little Elves Workshop, where guests can make an ornament with chocolate clay, icing and ribbon; Snowball Saturdays, friendly indoor snowball fights; and Holiday-Themed Chocolate Labs, where you can learn about chocolate and make your own holiday-themed chocolate treat.

Visit HersheyStory.org for a complete listing of events.

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Hershey Gardens

Hershey Gardens, a 23-acre walk-through botanical display garden, is bringing back its annual Christmas Tree Showcase inside the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory this season. Open daily through Jan. 1 (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day), this festive display of Christmas trees decorated by local florists features a variety of tree decorating styles and themes while a stunning 14-foot poinsettia tree takes center stage. The conservatory also includes a year-round indoor tropical Butterfly Atrium, the perfect place to keep warm as you view 600 butterflies from around the world. Additional holiday activities this season include Crafty Christmas Creations and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus on select dates. 

Visit HersheyGardens.org for a complete listing of events.

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Hershey’s Chocolate World

The official visitors center of The Hershey Company, 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 Character and Grinch appearances, Decorating with Mrs. Claus, Breakfast with Santa, Photos with Santa, Holly Jolly Trolley and Sweet Lights Trolley. Plus, make sure to check out 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!