Family-Friendly Guide to Hersheypark Halloween 2024
Things to Do During Eight Weekends of Halloween Fun at Hersheypark
The Halloween season at Hersheypark runs for eight weekends from Sept. 13 through Nov. 3, 2024, with family-friendly offerings during the day and frights at night at the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania.
Hersheypark Halloween will continue to offer kid-friendly rides, chocolatey trick-or-treat adventures, festive Hershey Character experiences and more for families before Dark Nights immersive haunt experience begins at 6 p.m. Guests with young ghosts and goblins can use this guide of family-friendly things to do at Hersheypark Halloween to help plan their fall visit.
Rides for All Ages
Hersheypark Halloween tickets include 50 rides, weather and maintenance permitting, with options for all Hershey height categories, from more than 40 kiddie and family rides to over a dozen thrilling coasters.
Thrill seekers in the family are in for a real treat during Hersheypark Halloween, as the lights go out for dark rides on Candymonium, Comet, Lightning Racer and Wildcat's Revenge during the last hour of operation. Plus, Laff Trakk will be lights-out all day and night long. The Halloween season is the only time of the year that guests can feel the rush of epic coasters with white-knuckle speed and unbeatable inversions in the dark.
Please note that select kiddie and family rides may close by 5 p.m. before the start of Dark Nights. These attractions include Granny Bugs, Monorail, Music Express, Pony Parade, Red Baron, Sweet Swing, Tea Cups and Trailblazer. Tiny Tracks and Skyview are temporarily closed throughout Hersheypark Halloween. Guests can download the Hersheypark app for a map and real-time ride availability.
Trick-or-Treating for Guests 12 and Under
There’s no sweeter place to trick-or-treat than Hersheypark! Children 12 and under are invited to don a Halloween costume* and enjoy 13 sweet stops on the Hershey's Trick Or Treat Trail winding from Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction with three stops to Treatville in The Boardwalk At Hersheypark water park with 10 candy stops. This year, kids can also trick-or-treat on Halloween night, Oct. 31, beginning at 5 p.m.
Treatville is open at the start of each operating day until 8:30 p.m. along a new path with Halloween lighting. The path begins at the Cabana entrance across from Fahrenheit and winds throughout the water park with fun photo spots.
View the Guide to Hershey's Trick Or Treat Trail 2024 for more information.
*Costume Policy
- All guests: Costumes that may cause confusion between the Dark Nights actors and guests are not permitted. Additionally, except as otherwise noted below, costumes are permitted on attractions provided they do not interfere with the restraint system, proper riding position, or cause a hazard to guests, employees, and/or the attraction. The loose articles policy for each attraction can be found under the “Additional Restrictions/Accessibility” link located on the information pages for each attraction on Hersheypark’s website, in the Rider Safety & Accessibility Guide, and on the Height Signs located at each attraction. Failure to adhere to the Hersheypark Costume Policy may result in the costume not being permitted or guest removal from the Park.
- Guests age 12 and under: Costumes and costume masks that provide unobstructed peripheral vision at all times with openings that allow the eyes to be fully seen may be worn. Costume masks are not allowed to be worn on any attractions. Having a fully painted face is permitted. This applies to guests who come to Hersheypark in makeup and also to guests who have their faces painted by the Park’s face painters.
- Guests age 13 and older: Costumes may be worn but must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, revealing, objectionable, violent, or otherwise disrupt the general safety of guests or employees. Costumes may not contain any props or accessories that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon. Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another guest. Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening. Costumes may not drag on the ground as they could be a trip hazard. Costume masks are not permitted, but guests may have up to half of their face painted provided that it does not alter their identity.
ALL-NEW Avenue Of The Afterlife
For those guests who want to experience Dark Nights thrills without any chills, there's no need to fear! Take a stroll down the Avenue Of The Afterlife, conveniently located in The Boardwalk. This new, scare-free zone will feature exclusive food, retail shopping, wicked-fun street performances and more - all while skipping the scares! It's the perfect not-so-spooky introduction to Dark Nights fun for families with young monsters.
Guests can also enjoy the haunt without all the scare during a Dark Nights Character Meet & Greet.
- 7-7:30 p.m. - Professor Darkstone
- 7:30-8 p.m. - Necromancer
- 8-9 p.m. - Fryboy & Friends from the Decade Brigade
Hershey Characters Glow Dance Parties
The Hershey Characters are dressed up in their Halloween finest and ready to party to the season's classics during more party times offered each day inside Music Box Theatre. Shake, Rattle and Glow: Monster Ball returns three times on Fridays and four times on Saturdays and Sundays for guests to put their rhythm to the test and dance the night away with their most beloved Characters. Times are listed in the Hersheypark app.
Hershey Character Photo Opportunities
Hersheypark is the only place guests can snap selfies with Hershey Characters dressed in Halloween costumes. Photo opportunities at Hershey’s Hangout are listed in the Hersheypark app. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos using #HersheyparkHappy!
Check out some other top photo spots throughout the Park.
Our Friends From The Sea Show
Guests can see California sea lions, Atlantic harbor seals and a grey seal during the Our Friends From The Sea show in the Aquatheatre at 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (please note no shows on Fridays).
All-New Dining Experiences
Guests often come for the rides but stay for the sweets at Hersheypark, and Halloween is no different. Hersheypark offers a taste of fall with more than 50 limited-time treats, savory eats and cocktails available during Hersheypark Halloween. Instagram-worthy items include a Halloween-themed King Size Shake topped with baked goods, KILLbassa bowl, Terror Tots and so much more!
Check out our 2024 Foodie Guide to Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights to eat your way through Hersheypark.
Guests can also sample some of the frightfully delicious food offerings available during Dark Nights with the Hersheypark HalloweenTasting Pass, which includes a choice of up to five specialty menu items from more than 35 food and beverage options throughout the Park, such as Pulled Pork Sliders, Blood Orange Lemonade, Black Velvet Cake and more. The Tasting Pass is $36.95 plus tax and can be purchased online in advance or in-person at Guest Services locations.
Creatures Of The Night at ZooAmerica (Starting October 11)
Guests should bring their flashlight and curiosity because ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is getting in on the Halloween action. The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this fall, with the Creatures Of The Night attraction running three weekends on Fridays through Sundays from Oct. 11-27. The Halloween-themed experience from 6-9 p.m. is the only time of year that ZooAmerica is open after dark for visitors to explore the Zoo by flashlight to see their favorite nocturnal animals under cover of nightfall and enjoy educational activities.
View a guide of activities and educational displays for the whole family during Creatures Of The Night
ZooAmerica is included in the one-price admission to Hersheypark Halloween when accessing the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. Guests interested in visiting ZooAmerica before Hersheypark opens will have to purchase separate Zoo admission here.
Dark Nights Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
If your family wants to give scare a try, the nightmare continues for Dark Nights in its third year with new, blood-curdling frights lurking about beginning nightly at 6 p.m. A Hersheypark Halloween ticket or 2024 Hersheypark Season Pass includes Dark Nights admission with five haunted houses and three spine-chilling Scare Zones that vary in intensity.
NEW in 2024 is the Estate of Evil Haunted House, featuring 13 terrifying rooms in a spacious brownstone mansion. Prepare to be captivated by the meticulous care of the live-in waitstaff, but be cautious not to suffer the same fate as the previous owners! Also new is Darkstone's Hollow: Battle for Spring Creek, a scare zone located in The Hollow region of the Park.
Some aspects of the experience may be too intense for children younger than 13. Parental discretion and guidance are advised.
Explore the Haunt Guide to Dark Nights for more details.
Halloween Getaway
Visitors looking to treat the family to a Halloween weekend in The Sweetest Place On Earth can book the perfect fall getaway at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark, with rates available here.
The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge will offer several Halloween packages, including a Dark Nights package featuring two nights of deluxe accommodations, a two-day Hersheypark ticket, breakfast each day, Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Passes and Dark Nights Haunted House Fast Track Passes for each guest.
All guests of The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge or Hersheypark Camping Resort receive FREE Resort Benefits, including the best price on Hersheypark tickets, extra hours at the Park with Preview Plan, and free front-gate shuttle service to the all-new exclusive resort drop-off location.
