Celebrate Milton Hershey’s 169th Birthday at Expanded Community Event

The community is invited to a grand celebration on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. to commemorate Milton Hershey's 169th birthday. The event will be held at Chocolate Town Square Park, 48 W. Chocolate Ave., in downtown Hershey.

This year’s celebration will be expanded as the community prepares for the nationwide theatrical release of HERSHEY, a new film chronicling the life and legacy of Milton Hershey, arriving in theaters this Thanksgiving. Starring Finn Wittrock as Milton Hershey and Alexandra Daddario as his wife, Catherine “Kitty” Hershey, the film brings the story of Hershey’s founder and the community and school he created to audiences across the country.

“This year’s expanded festivities give us an opportunity to celebrate Milton Hershey’s birthday and honor the remarkable vision and legacy of a man whose ideas and generosity continue to shape the community he founded more than a century ago,” said Amy Zeigler, senior director, The Hershey Story Museum. “We welcome everyone to join us on this special day.”

The event will feature:

• Live performances by student musicians from Milton Hershey School and Hershey High School
• Kids’ games
• Hershey’s candy characters, Coco the Bear (Hershey Bears mascot) and Sparty (Milton Hershey School mascot)
• Hershey’s chocolate, courtesy of The Hershey Company
• Cupcakes, courtesy of Milton Hershey School
• Ice cream from Cherry Blossom Creamery and beverages from Noel's Café (additional purchases).

Event sponsors include Milton Hershey School, Hershey Trust Company, Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning, The Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and The M.S. Hershey Foundation.

In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held at The Hershey Story Museum; please check HersheyStory.org for updates.

More information about Milton Hershey, the company, the town and the school he founded, his enduring legacy and the HERSHEY movie is available at HersheyLegacy.org.

Half-Off Museum Experience Admission

In addition to Milton Hershey’s Birthday Celebration at Chocolate Town Square Park, The Hershey Story Museum will celebrate Milton Hershey’s birthday by offering half-off admission to the Museum Experience on Sunday, Sept. 13. 

The immersive, self-guided experience tells the rags-to-riches story of Milton Hershey, the company he created, the town of Hershey, and the school he and his wife founded for disadvantaged children. In addition to interactive stations that tell the many stories of America’s most famous chocolatier, the Museum Experience features equipment from the original factory, personal artifacts belonging to Milton and Catherine Hershey, vintage Hershey’s packaging, and items from the town’s early years.

Guests can also celebrate Milton Hershey’s birthday by participating in the “Celebration Caramels” Chocolate Lab Class on Sept. 12 and 13 at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Participants will dip rich butter caramels, made in-house, in milk chocolate and also learn the history behind Milton Hershey’s success and his beginnings in the caramel industry before venturing into chocolate. Ticket purchase is required; children must be at least five years old to participate in a Chocolate Lab class.