July 4th Weekend Guide for Hershey, PA
Top Picks in The Sweetest Place On Earth for the 4th of July
From an epic fireworks display and family-friendly nighttime entertainment to coaster riding and special dining offerings, Hershey, Pa., is the place to be over the July 4th weekend (and all summer!). Check out our top picks to celebrate Independence Day in The Sweetest Place On Earth.
Hersheypark is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 1-2 and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 3-4. 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.
Hershey Fireworks Display
Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at 9:45 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 Tuesday, July 4, at 9:45 p.m. Please note that the rides will still close at 9 p.m., but Hersheypark will remain open for guests to watch the fireworks from inside the Park and the parking lots.
Star-Spangled Picnic at Hersheypark
Saturday, July 1, through Tuesday, July 4, 2023, 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 Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day over the holiday weekend. The menu includes multiple salads, sides, entrees and assorted desserts. Adult tickets are $26.99, and child tickets are $16.99 (plus tax.) The Hersheypark Season Pass Holder discount is applied when purchased in person. You can purchase tickets online here.
4th of July Celebration at The Hotel Hershey
Tuesday, July 4, 2023, from 6-11 p.m.
The Hotel Hershey celebrates Independence Day on July 4 with live music, food and drinks on the veranda. From 6-9 p.m., guests can purchase dinner from a grab-and-go picnic buffet in Starlight Terrace, featuring pot roast sandwiches, BBQ pulled pork shoulder, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni and cheese and more. Then, guests can grab a seat on the veranda and enjoy their meal while listening to live patriotic music from 7-11 p.m. Plus, the veranda makes for a perfect viewing spot for Hershey’s fireworks display that evening! A bar will also be available from 6-11 p.m. This event is first-come, first-served, and reservations are not accepted.
Zac Brown Band at Hersheypark Stadium
Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 7 p.m.
Zac Brown Band will return to Hersheypark Stadium for a show on Saturday, July 1.
The new set of dates in 2023 marks the band’s 10th North American Tour and arrives on the heels of the 2022 “Out in the Middle Tour,” which visited Hershey, Pa. on August 14, 2022. The tour will showcase Zac Brown Band’s one-of-a-kind, southern rock style over 30 shows, including a return to Fenway Park and performances at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, Hersheypark Stadium, Budweiser Stage and Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
“This past year was monumental, and we’re thrilled to bring all that momentum into 2023 and onto the ‘From the Fire Tour,’” said Brown. “We are all like family in this band, and having the opportunity to bring our music from city to city is something we never take for granted. We can’t wait to be back on the road with our fans.”
Big Time Rush at Hersheypark Stadium
Sunday, July 2, 2023, at 7 p.m.
Big Time Rush announced the 35-date “Can’t Get Enough Tour,” along with the release of their newest single, “Can’t Get Enough," including a stop in Hershey, Pa. on July 2. The newly announced tour comes on the heels of a 2022 sold-out North American “Forever Tour,” which visited Hershey, Pa. at GIANT Center on July 1, 2022.
Big Time Rush will head out on the road starting June 22, along with special guests, openers Max and Jax. Pop star Max has amassed more than 1.5 billion streams and has released several multi-platinum songs. Singer-songwriter and TikTok star Jax, who won iHeartRadio’s TikTok Songwriter of the Year Award in 2022, has made waves with her body-positive anthem “Victoria’s Secret,” which debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
Make Yankee Doodle Chocolate Bars at The Hershey Story
Saturday, July 1, through Tuesday, July 4, at select times
The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue, offers Yankee Doodle Chocolate Bar-themed Chocolate Lab classes from July 1-4. 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. Stay tuned for our ultimate summer guide to discover the non-stop fun happening across our destination all summer long!