2023 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 back for its 40th year 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 more than 250,000 dancing lights synchronized to Christmas music, family-friendly rides and thrilling coasters (weather permitting), photos with Santa, NEW Mrs. Claus' Dance Party, Hershey Character Meet and Greet, signature hot chocolate and sweet treats, holiday shopping and more.
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is open on select dates from Nov. 10 through Jan. 1, with daily operations starting Dec. 14 (closed Christmas Day); hours vary by day.
Hershey Sweet Lights
Just outside of Hersheypark, guests can enjoy the separately ticketed Hershey Sweet Lights 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 created from about 2 million LED lights. Many displays follow unique themes like The 12 Days of Christmas, Fairy Tales, a Victorian Village and Hersheypark rides.
The attraction is open nightly starting Nov. 17 through Jan. 1, 2024; hours vary.
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 spa treatments, seasonal dining and cocktails, and holiday-themed resort activities.
Holiday 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 enjoy the Hersheypark Christmas Candylane Camping Package with accommodations and Park tickets. All guests receive Free Resort Benefits like front gate shuttle service and preview 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 everyone’s favorite holiday entertainment at Hershey Theatre and GIANT Center. The 2023 holiday entertainment lineup includes the following shows that are sure to brighten spirits in November and December. Tickets are available at HersheyEntertainment.com.
- Nov. 30: Sarah Brightman “A Christmas Symphony” at Hershey Theatre
- Dec. 6: Pentatonix “The Most Wonderful Tour Of The Year” at GIANT Center
- Dec. 8: Girl Named Tom “One More Christmas Tour” at Hershey Theatre
- Dec. 10: Straight No Chaser “Sleighin' It Tour” at Hershey Theatre
- Dec. 15: Trans-Siberian Orchestra “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” at GIANT Center
- Dec. 16-17: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet “ The Nutcracker” at Hershey Theatre
- Dec. 21: Cirque Dreams Holidaze at Hershey Theatre
Plus, don't miss two Broadway tours coming to Hershey the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas!
- Nov. 21-26: CHICAGO at Hershey Theatre
- Dec. 26-31: Come From Away at Hershey Theatre
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.
New for 2023, The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio will offer a holiday patio event with spiked hot chocolate for adults ages 21 and older, over-the-top hot chocolate for kids and tabletop s’mores kits overlooking the Hershey's Chocolatetown region of Hersheypark starting Nov. 24. A Breakfast with Santa experience is also available at The Chocolatier on select dates from Nov. 24 through Dec. 24. Guests can enjoy a delicious 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.
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.
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 the Little Elves Workshop, where guests can make an ornament with chocolate clay, icing and ribbon; Comfy Cozy Cocoa available during Tastings hours; 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
Hershey Gardens, a 23-acre walk-through botanical display garden, welcomes the holiday season with a festive exhibit of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus and children's crafts. The annual Christmas Tree Showcase, included in general admission, is open daily Nov. 24 through Jan. 1 (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) and will feature a more immersive guest experience for the 2023 holiday season with 11 trees decorated by local artists on display in an indoor winter landscape. Guests can also enjoy sparkling lights and a 14-foot white poinsettia tree - a perfect backdrop for holiday photos. The Christmas Tree Showcase is open for extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays in December with live music on select dates.
Additional holiday activities offered on select dates this season include Crafty Christmas Creations holiday craft-making, a Visit with Santa, and Storytime with Mrs. Claus. 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
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 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!