2024 Memorial Day Weekend Guide in Hershey, Pa.
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 to Hershey, Pa. There's no sweeter place to spend the extended weekend, from new coaster experiences and water park fun to delicious eats across the destination. Read through our event guide to help you maximize your time with us!
MAKE A SPLASH AT THE WATER PARK: OPEN MAY 25 THROUGH LABOR DAY
A summer trip to Hersheypark is incomplete without a visit to The Boardwalk At Hersheypark, open daily starting on May 25! This year marks 15 years since the “SEAquel” first opened with two new attractions, The Shore and Intercoastal Waterway. The expansion in 2009 included 27 private rental cabanas along the lazy river, complete with complimentary soda, bottled water, towels and more.
The Boardwalk features something fun for everyone in the family - with thrill-seekers able to enjoy racing slides on Whitecap Racer and rocket through high-speed tunnels on Breaker’s Edge Water Coaster, while others can soak up 1,360 feet of sweet, tubular relaxation on the Intercoastal Waterway lazy river. 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 1,000-gallon tipping bucket!
The Boardwalk At Hersheypark is open daily from May 25 through Sept. 2, weather permitting, so make a splash while you can!
ENJOY NEW RIDE EXPERIENCES AT HERSHEYPARK : NOW OPEN DAILY
Another exciting summer season of Hersheypark Happy is upon us. Open for daily operations beginning May 23, guests of all ages can make sweet memories by checking out all the fun the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania offers.
Home to 15 unique coasters, more than 20 kid-friendly rides and a larger-than-life water park, Hersheypark has something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Coaster conquerors are sure to enjoy new ride experiences on two of the most iconic roller coasters - Skyrush and Comet - while the Park's first hybrid coaster, Wildcat's Revenge, is back for another summer of vengeance after opening to the public last year. Join us in celebrating fan-favorite rides like Wild Mouse, Trailblazer and Storm Runner as they mark milestone anniversaries in 2024.
Hersheypark tickets include three parks in one: a 121-acre amusement park with an iconic ride collection, an 11-acre water park with one million gallons of water and ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park. Hersheypark guests can only access the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. Great ticket deals are available online now.
GRAB A BITE TO EAT AT THE MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC AT HERSHEYPARK
Make plans to join us on May 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside Hersheypark at Fahrenheit Catering for the Memorial Day all-you-care-to-eat picnic! The menu includes Italian Chicken, Pulled Pork BBQ, Hamburgers, Coleslaw, Macaroni Salad, Fresh Fruit Salad, Lay's Chips and Assorted Desserts. The price is $26.99 for adults and $16.99 for children (plus tax). Parkgoers can purchase picnic tickets online now on Hersheypark.com.
TRY A TASTY NEW DISH
Feast your eyes and stomachs on all the delicious new options hitting the menus at our various dining properties across the destination!
- Guests staying at or visiting The Hotel Hershey can indulge in bright additions to the menus at The Circular, Harvest and Trevi 5. The chefs at The Circular are cooking up concoctions perfect for the summer weather, like Citrus Crusted Lamb, Lobster Toast and a Spring Chopped Salad. Head on over to Harvest for new farm-to-fork creations, such as Pan Seared Trout, Steamed Pei Mussels or a Black Bean Burger. The Hotel's modern Italian dining experience, Trevi 5, is serving up Carciofi Pizza, Porkchop Parmigiana and Grilled Swordfish Puttanesca.
- The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio recently refreshed its menu to include new drinks, desserts, appetizers and entrees. Start the meal off with all-new appetizers like the Sticky Rib “Basket" or Creamy Burratta before moving on to entrees such as a Peach and Prosciutto Flatbread or Pasta Primavera! You must always save room for dessert when visiting The Chocolatier, so be sure to check out their new Strawberry Milkshake or S'mores cake.
SPEND THE NIGHT AT A HERSHEY 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.
Guests of The Hotel Hershey can enjoy a family pool with zero-grade entry, two large slides and a kiddie spray deck, as well as an infinity-edge adult pool and whirlpool. Campers at Hersheypark Camping Resort can cool off in two swimming pools and a kiddie pool. Hershey Lodge guests can enjoy pool time at a zero-entry outdoor pool or a sweet indoor pool complex, Hershey’s Water Works, complete with Twizzlers Twists water slides, a Reese’s Water Walk, sand castle spray zone, lighthouse tipping bucket and more.
Do you still need to book your stay? Save now with sweet packages, like the all-new Ultimate Summer Fun and Summer Fun Packages at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge.
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! Visitors can unwrap their chocolate adventure with fun for the whole family by taking a free chocolate tour ride to see how cocoa beans became world-famous Hershey's Chocolate. They can also take home a sweet souvenir by shopping the endless amounts of chocolate and limited-edition treats. Additional paid attraction experiences—including a chocolate bar-making factory, candy-filled theatrical experience and trolley show on wheels—are also offered.
Every Saturday in May, guests of the Hershey Gardens can go on an hour-long adventure, joining Dr. Ray Barbehenn, a biologist with expertise in plant ecology, for a guided tour of the Gardens. Indulge your senses in the variety of displays at the tropical Butterfly Atrium, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Don’t forget to head 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 on Memorial Day Weekend, where you can mold a milk chocolate bar and top it off with red, white and blue candy sprinkles to create an 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 that children must be five or older 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!