Guide to July 4th Weekend 2024 in Hershey, PA
Top Picks in The Sweetest Place On Earth for the 4th of July
From an epic fireworks display and some of the biggest names in music to coaster rides and special dining offerings, Hershey, Pa., is a must-visit destination over the July 4th weekend (and all summer long!). Check out our top picks to celebrate Independence Day in The Sweetest Place On Earth.
Hersheypark is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 4 and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 5-7, 2024. Tickets include three parks in one with more than 70 rides for all ages and mild to wild coasters. Guests can also cool off at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark water park (hours vary) with 16 water attractions and see the North American animals at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park only when accessing the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. The Zoo is open daily over the holiday weekend from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Star-Spangled Picnic at Hersheypark
Thursday, July 4, through Saturday, July 6, 2024, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. each day
Guests visiting Hersheypark can enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat buffet picnic in the Fahrenheit Catering area. Picnics are available Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day over the holiday weekend. The menu includes oven roasted chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, brown sugar baked beans, sliced watermelon, corn on the cob, Lay's chips and assorted desserts.
Adult tickets are $28.61, and child tickets are $18.01. You can purchase tickets online. Hersheypark Season Pass Holders can purchase discounted picnic tickets in their Self-Service Account under Add-Ons. Meal plans are not valid for redemption at the picnic locations; a purchased ticket is required.
Justin Timberlake at Hersheypark Stadium
Thursday, July 4, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
Pop sensation Justin Timberlake is celebrating Independence Day in our sweet town of Hershey, Pa., with a performance at Hersheypark Stadium on “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour” on July 4.
Produced by Live Nation, Timberlake's tour will make stops across the U.S., with a special visit to The Sweetest Place On Earth. The tour marks Timberlake's first return to the stage in 5 years. Fans can expect to hear songs from his newly released album “Everything I Thought It Was," along with everyone's favorite hits.
Jazz On The Veranda at The Hotel Hershey
Friday, July 5, 2024, from 7-10 p.m.
The Hotel Hershey celebrates Independence Day on July 5 with live music, food and drinks on the veranda. Plus, the veranda makes for a perfect viewing spot for Hershey’s fireworks display that evening! This event is first-come, first-served, and reservations are not accepted.
Hershey Fireworks Display
Friday, July 5, 2024, at 10:15 p.m.
Ride coasters during the day and then see fireworks at night! Hersheypark will offer its annual fireworks display (located just outside of Hersheypark) for guests and residents to enjoy on Friday, July 5, at 10:15 p.m. Please note that the rides will still close at 10 p.m., but Hersheypark will remain open for guests to watch the fireworks from inside the Park and the parking lots.
Janet Jackson at Hersheypark Stadium
Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 8 p.m.
One year after announcing her highly anticipated return to the road with her ninth concert tour “Together Again,” five-time GRAMMY Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Janet Jackson revealed 35 additional dates to the run. Rapper Nelly will join Jackson on tour across all dates. Produced by Live Nation, the new leg of the tour kicks off in summer 2024 and includes a stop in Hershey, Pa. over an exciting July 4 weekend.
Outlaw Music Festival at Hersheypark Stadium
Sunday, July 7, 2024, at 5 p.m.
Willie Nelson, Mark Rothbaum, Keith Wortman, Blackbird Presents and Live Nation have announced the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival Tour. This year's return to Hersheypark Stadium promises to be the biggest and best yet to close out an impressive July 4 weekend of summer concerts. With a lineup of legendary artists featuring headliners Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Celisse, this show is you just can't miss.
Relax With A Chocolate Spa Treatment
Enjoy a day of pampering over the holiday with sweet spa treatments from The Spa At The Hotel Hershey or MeltSpa by Hershey! Visit either spa and enjoy chocolate-inspired treatments like a Cocoa Massage or Cocoa Facial, or, indulge in the sweet scents of summer with a limited-time seasonal treatment. At Meltspa, guests can book a treatment from the Summer Strawberry Collection like a Strawberry Parfait Body Scrub, Manicure or Pedicure. Head to The Spa At The Hotel Hershey and book the Vacation For A Day Package and get a 50-Minute Massage, Spa Prescription Facial, lunch at The Oasis, a restaurant exclusively for spa guests and access to The Hotel Hershey's outdoor pool complex.
To book an appointment at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey, call 844-330-1797. For MeltSpa by Hershey, call 855-500-2366 or visit their website.
Make Yankee Doodle Chocolate Bars at The Hershey Story
Thursday, July 4, through Tuesday, July 9, at select times
The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue, offers Yankee Doodle Chocolate Bar-themed Chocolate Lab classes from July 4-9. During this 45-minute class, available at select times between 10 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., museum guests can try their hand at chocolate pouring and decorating as they mold a milk chocolate bar and top it off with red, white and blue candy sprinkles to create their own edible American flag. Guests will discover where and how cocoa beans are grown and processed into their favorite chocolate confections. Chocolate Lab tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may be purchased at The Hershey Story admissions desk upon arrival. Children must be at least 5 years old to enter the Lab.
In addition to these July 4th happenings, the sweet town of Hershey is filled with attractions and activities the whole family can enjoy. Explore why the town built on chocolate is a must-visit destination in 2024.