2023 Memorial Day Weekend Guide in Hershey
Things to Do During the Long Weekend in The Sweetest Place On Earth
On Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Memorial Day Weekend is right around the corner, bringing warm weather and the unofficial start of summer. Hershey is the place to be for the extended weekend, with plenty of exciting things happening across the destination. Read through our guide of events to help you maximize your time in The Sweetest Place On Earth.
SOAK UP THE SUN AT THE BOARDWALK AT HERSHEYPARK : OPEN MAY 27 THROUGH LABOR DAY
The Boardwalk at Hersheypark will kick off its 16th operating season on Saturday, May 27! Summer tickets include access to our 11-acre waterpark, providing 16 incredible water rides to keep you cooled off all day long. Guests can experience 1,360 feet of sweet, tubular relaxation on the Intercoastal Highway lazy river, racing slides on Whitecap Racer, or rocket through high-speed tunnels on Breaker’s Edge Water Coaster for the ultimate thrill. Our youngest guests can enjoy splash areas with zero-depth entry and two wave pools by thrill level. The East Coast Waterworks attraction provides splashing fun for all ages, complete with nearly 600 interactive water toys, seven slides, two crawl tunnels, and a 10,000-gallon tipping bucket!
The Boardwalk At Hersheypark is open daily May 27 through September 4, weather permitting, so be sure to soak up all of the waterpark fun while you can.
RIDE THRILLING COASTERS AT HERSHEYPARK NOW OPEN DAILY
With more operating days than ever, Hersheypark amusement park is ready to welcome family and friends for its biggest summer yet! Open for daily operations beginning May 25, guests of all ages can make sweet memories by checking out all the fun that the park has to offer.
Home to more than 20 kid-friendly rides, 15 unique roller coasters, and a larger-than-life water park, Hersheypark has something for everyone in the family to enjoy. See the sights from up above on our near 100-foot Ferris Wheel or blast through flavor tunnels and jam to sweet tunes on Jolly Rancher Remix!
Some of our fan-favorite coasters are also celebrating anniversaries just in time for the Memorial Day Weekend festivities! The roaring Great Bear is turning 25 on May 23, while Fahrenheit, with its signature 97-degree drop, celebrates its 15th year on May 24. And stay tuned for more details around Wildcat's Revenge, set to debut this summer.
The purchase of a ticket to Hersheypark includes admission to The Boardwalk At Hersheypark (more details below) and ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park only by accessing the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. Great ticket deals are available now at hersheypark.com.
KICK-OFF THE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: FIRST SHOW MAY 27
It’s a busy month across all of our Hershey Entertainment venues, and Memorial Day Weekend brings three great acts to town! Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren will kick off the weekend with a show at Hershey Theatre on May 26 at 7:30 p.m. The following night, Blink-182 returns to Hersheypark Stadium to rock out on May 27 at 7:30 p.m. for our first stadium show of the summer. Legendary musician Boz Scaggs will round out the packed weekend of entertainment with a performance at Hershey Theatre on May 28 at 8 p.m.
Concert attendees can receive discounted tickets of $56.95 to Hersheypark by showing proof of their show ticket to Ticketing Services, located in Tram Circle, on the day of, the day before, or the day after an event.
TRY A TASTY NEW BITE
Foodies, rejoice! With many new options hitting the menus at Hershey Lodge, Houlihan’s Restaurant + Bar, and Devon Seafood + Steak, you’ll want to feast your eyes (and bellies) on these yummy dishes.
At Hershey Lodge, guests have many seasonal courses to choose from. Fire & Grain has added a Summer Caprese Salad, while Revelry Chophouse, Bar + Patio is serving up Crispy Pork Belly. While you’re at it, be sure to check out the Shrimp Tacos at The Bears' Den, and make sure you save room to grab a Berry Beary Milkshake from Cocoa Beanery for dessert!
Houlihan’s has recently debuted fresh appetizers, like Firecracker Cauliflower and Char-Crusted Ahi Tuna. Don’t miss out on their delicious Crab Cake entree, which can be paired with four new Crushes for those 21+.
Rounding out the latest offerings is Devon Seafood + Steak, where you can find Mesquite Grilled Ribs, Seared Halibut, and a kickin’ Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita.
SPEND THE NIGHT AT A HERSHEYPARK RESORT: OUTDOOR POOLS OPEN FOR THE SEASON
For those staying overnight at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark, get ready to take a dip because the outdoor pools at The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge and Hersheypark Camping Resort are officially open for the season (weather permitting) Memorial Day weekend.
The weekend will also commemorate the 90th anniversary of The Hotel Hershey on Friday, May 26, in which guests staying at the Hotel can partake in cake and punch, located in the Fountain Lobby from 3:30-5 p.m. Throughout the weekend, the Iberian Lounge at the Hotel will also offer a special cocktail, the Antique Old Fashioned, inspired by the Prohibition era from when the Hotel first opened in 1933. The drink features bourbon from a single barrel of Weller Antique 107 that was hand-selected specifically for The Hotel Hershey and is only available at the Hotel.
If you haven’t yet booked your stay, there’s still time left to save with sweet packages, like the 2-Day Stay and Play Package and 3-Night Sweet Stay Package at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge, and the Hersheypark Summer Camping Package at Hersheypark Camping Resort.
Guests of all resorts receive free resort benefits, including front gate shuttle service to an exclusive resort drop-off location just steps away from Hersheypark and free or discounted admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience.
ACTIVITIES AROUND TOWN
HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD is open daily this summer, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023! This Memorial Day Weekend, be one of the first to experience the brand-new Hershey’s Great Candy Expedition, opening on May 19. The cinematic experience will feature the first fully immersive, interactive experience of its kind in North America that incorporates all five senses. Tickets for the newest attraction are free for children 2 and under, and $19.95 for those ages 3 and up.
On Saturday, May 27, Hershey Gardens will host the Annual Iris Show by the Susquehanna Iris Society in the Garden Cottage from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. See a selection of tall, intermediate, and miniature-tall bearded varieties of irises, which will be on display for judging and awards. Every Saturday in May, you can go on an hour-long adventure, joining Dr. Ray Barbehenn, a biologist with an expertise in plant ecology, for a guided tour of the Gardens.
Don’t forget to head over to The Hershey Story museum for Hershey’s sweetest hands-on activity, the Chocolate Lab, inviting guests to try their hand at chocolate pouring and decorating. A special Yankee Doodle Chocolate Bar class will be offered Memorial Day Weekend, where you can mold a milk chocolate bar and top it off with red, white and blue candy sprinkles to create your own, edible American flag! Lab tickets are limited and cannot be purchased online. Tickets must be purchased at the museum’s admissions desk for the current day only. Please note, children must be age 5 or older in order to enter the Chocolate Lab.
While you’re having fun in the sun, don’t forget to tag us in your photos on social media using #HersheyPA!