A Guide to New Year's Eve 2022 in Hershey, PA
Ring in 2023 with Activities, Delicious Eats and an Immersive Downtown Display
The countdown is on to bid farewell to 2022 and ring in 2023! Hershey The Sweetest Place On Earth will celebrate New Year's Eve with holiday attractions, family-friendly activities, delicious eats and an immersive downtown display.
Check out our guide to New Year's Eve 2022 in Hershey, Pa., complete with a suggested itinerary of happenings around town for visitors and residents alike.
8-10:30 a.m. - Breakfast With Hershey Characters at The Chocolatier
There is no sweeter way to kick off New Year’s Eve day in Hershey than with a delicious breakfast buffet featuring hints of chocolate. The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio in Hershey’s Chocolatetown is offering a Holiday Breakfast with Hershey Characters on Dec. 31 from 8-10:30 a.m. Reservations are required, with plenty of availability remaining at this time. Pricing for adults (ages 12+) is $32.95. Kids (ages 3-11) are $22.95, and children 2 and under are free. Prices do not include tax and gratuity.
Bonus idea - The Holiday Breakfast with Hershey Characters is also offered on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2023. Start off the first day of 2023 with a fun morning and delicious eats at The Chocolatier.
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Little Elves Workshop at The Hershey Story Museum
The Hershey Story Museum features a variety of popular hands-on activities throughout the day for guests of all ages, including Little Elves Workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids will journey through a workshop and use chocolate clay, icing and ribbon to fashion an ornament. Children can also try out some vintage toys, and the whole family can pose in front of a snowy Hershey scene for a holiday photo opportunity. The cost is $8 per ornament; adults may accompany children at no charge.
10 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. - Holiday-Themed Chocolate Lab Classes at The Hershey Story
Guests can enjoy a 45-minute holiday-themed chocolate lab class where they learn about chocolate and make their own chocolate treats. Chocolate Lab tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may be purchased at The Hershey Story admissions desk on the day of the visit. Children must be at least 5 years old to enter the Lab. A paying adult must accompany children under the age of 13.
The class schedule for Dec. 31 is as follows:
- 10-10:45 a.m. - Marshmallow Mischief
- Dunk giant marshmallows in melted chocolate, then roll in holiday toppings. Finish by packaging your custom marshmallow treat in a holiday package to take home. You’ll also learn some little-known facts about marshmallows and chocolate!
- 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Reindeer Medallions
- Use milk chocolate and toppings to create your own edible reindeer trio. Learn the fascinating story behind the chocolate-making process.
- 1:30-2:15 p.m. - Candy Cane Bark
- Layer milk and white chocolate with chunks of peppermint candy to create fresh candy cane bark. Satisfy your curiosity about the chocolate-making process through live narrative and colorful slides.
- 3-3:45 p.m. - Make a Very Merry Bar
- Mold and customize your own milk chocolate bar using holiday add-ins and edible decorations. Learn some delicious geography by finding out more about the many places around the globe where cocoa beans are grown and how they are processed to become the chocolate we all love.
11 a.m. - New Year’s Eve Countdown at The Hershey Story Museum
Families are invited to participate in the New Year’s Eve Countdown at The Hershey Story Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with bubble wrap stomps for kids at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. free on the patio, weather permitting.
12-4 p.m. - Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Hersheypark is open for Christmas Candylane on Dec. 31 from 12-4 p.m. The holiday attraction features more than 5 million twinkling lights, holiday thrills on select rides and coasters, an up-close look at all nine of Santa’s reindeer, TREEville trail with more than a dozen trees that share the stories of The Sweetest Place On Earth, a new Hershey Character Meet and Greet, signature hot chocolate and other sweet treats, and more.
Tickets also include entry to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park only when accessing the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. ZooAmerica is open on Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those interested in only visiting the Zoo can purchase separate tickets online or in person at the ZooAmerica admissions building.
4-9:30 p.m. - New Year’s Eve Celebration at Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hershey’s Chocolate World is counting down to its big 5-0 anniversary and invites guests to a family-friendly party, complete with a DJ, Hershey Characters and more, on Dec. 31 from 4-9:30 p.m.
Please note that Chocolate World is open on Dec. 31 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. for shopping, the free chocolate tour ride and other paid attractions. Guests may even see an appearance by the Grinch!
5 p.m. - Hershey Bears vs. Providence Bruins
The Hershey Bears take on the Providence Bruins at GIANT Center on New Year's Eve at 5 p.m. Cheer on the Chocolate and White as they look to end 2022 with a win! Tickets for the game can be purchased online.
5-10 p.m. - Hershey Sweet Lights Presented by Members 1st Federal Credit Union
Hershey Sweet Lights drive-through attraction is open on Dec. 31 from 5-10 p.m. Families can hop in the car and marvel at more than 600 holiday light displays through two miles of fields and wooded trails while listening to holiday music, with a custom music station provided through the iHeartRadio app.
Guests are encouraged to buy early and online to save. Admission for a single car (seats up to 8 people) on Dec. 31 is $29.95 plus taxes and fees when purchased in advance online. Same-day online ticket sales end at 5 p.m. Full-price tickets are available in person at the entrance booth after 5 p.m.
8 p.m. - Midnight - Downtown Hershey New Year’s Eve Celebration
For the 18th year, Downtown Hershey will host a New Year’s Eve celebration with music, food and family-friendly activities beginning at 8 p.m.
The local band Fully Stocked will open this year’s event from 9-10 p.m. with rock and pop songs from the 1970s to today. Headlining this year’s show from 10:30-11:55 p.m. is Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax, an 11-piece, high-energy band from Northeastern PA featuring a mix of Motown, disco, R&B, Rock n’ Roll, and Top 40 music.
At midnight, Denny Logan and the Hershey Characters will lead a countdown to help raise the KISS before an immersive display – even if it’s foggy.
If you attend any of these New Year’s Eve events, snap some photos and tag us on Twitter at @HersheyPA and Instagram at @TheSweetestPlaceOnEarth using #HersheyPA.