9 sweet things to do with kids in Hershey over Christmas Break
Have your kids made the nice list this year? Then, treat them to some holiday fun in Hershey!
From festive entertainment to zoo adventures to chocolate-making, holiday lights and more, there are so many ways to bring holiday cheer to the whole family this season.
Here are some "sweet" ways to entertain your kids in Hershey over Christmas Break.
See a holiday show
Dancers from the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet will bring George Balanchine's winter classic "The Nutcracker" to life at Hershey Theatre over the holidays with a dazzling performance for the whole family to enjoy. As the clock strikes 12, you'll happen upon a battle between toy soldiers and mischievous mice as a blizzard of ballerinas reveal a wonderful world of confection.
Showtimes are 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23.
Visit Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Marking its 35th anniversary this year, Christmas Candylane has returned to Hersheypark, featuring more than 45 rides (weather permitting), four million twinkling lights, a holiday light show choreographed to music, visits with Santa and all nine of his reindeer, holiday entertainment, treats and more. Open daily through Jan. 1 (except Christmas Day), Christmas Candylane is sure to be a holiday adventure the whole family can enjoy.
Enjoy Wild Winter Fun at ZooAmerica
If your kids love animals, you won't want to miss the wild winter activities at ZooAmerica! The Wild Winter Adventure program, held Dec. 27-30, is a three-hour program designed to teach children how animals deal with the cold and survive the winter weather. Young animal lovers will explore the Zoo, get up close and personal with animal encounters, visit the reindeer in Hersheypark, make a craft and enjoy a snack! Pre-registration is required.
Cheer on the Hershey Bears hockey team
Hershey's hometown hockey team, the Hershey Bears, has a busy holiday season as they take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Dec.21, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Dec. 22 and the Providence Bruins on Dec. 29 and 30 at the Giant Center. So, there are plenty of opportunities to cheer them on over Christmas Break. Fans who attend the Dec. 21 game will receive a Hersheypark Pass valid for one-day admission through July 31, 2019. And if you're one of the first 5,000 fans in the door on Dec. 22, you'll receilve a fleece blanket, courtesy of UGI.
Drive through Hershey Sweet Lights
Take the whole family for a drive through 2 miles of holiday light displays at Hershey Sweet Lights. You'll travel through fields and wooded trails enjoying nearly 600 illuminated, animated displays all while listening to festive holiday music. The attraction is open daily through Jan. 1.
Become a chocolatier at The Hershey Story Museum
Children can make their own chocolate creations at The Hershey Story Museum this holiday season. On select dates through Jan. 1, kids can roll, cut and ice their own chocolate ornaments at the museum's Little Elves Workshop or make their own edible Christmas confection at a Holiday-Themed Chocolate Lab class.
Take in the beauty of the Christmas Tree Showcase at Hershey Gardens
Hershey Gardens has never looked so festive! The Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory has decked its halls with gorgeous, professionally decorated Christmas trees this season for the Gardens' first-ever Christmas Tree Showcase. Kids will especially love these trees because they'll receive a special pair of glasses that will allow them to see something special in the tree lights.
The Children's Garden is also getting in on the holiday festivities this year. On select days during December, kids can paint a wooden ornament to take home as part of a new program called "Crafty Christmas Creations." And for those who prefer to spend the holidays in the tropics, the Butterfly Atrium will be adorned with seasonal embellishments. Even the butterflies and bugs are hoping Santa will stop by!
Visit the Chocolate House at Hershey's Chocolate World
Only at Hershey's Chocolate World will you find a home designed with Kit Kat siding, chocolate shingles and lollipop lights! Covering 85 square feet, this year's Holiday Chocolate House, created by employees from The Hershey Company, is a must-see. It features a colorful Jolly Rancher chimney, Santa's Workshop, and it provides a great backdrop for photos. But the best part is that for every hour worked on the house, and there were 400 this year, Hershey's Chocolate World donated $8 to Children's Miracle Network. And, you can help, too. Donations can be made at any retail or food service register.
Other holiday attractions at Hershey's Chocolate World include Breakfast with Santa, the Hershey Sweet Lights Trolley and the Holly Jolly Trolley.
Build a Gingerbread House
The gingerbread kits are assembled and the hot cocoa is flowing inside Fire & Grain at Hershey Lodge this season! Families are welcome to participate in Gingerbread House Workshops, held from 1-2:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 23, 29 and 30. The workshop costs $15 and includes a kit, apron, snacks and cocoa. To sign up, please call the Lodge Concierge at 717-534-8601.