Hersheypark Christmas Candylane and Hershey Sweet Lights Return Nov. 15 With New Offerings

The most wonderful time of the year is almost here in The Sweetest Place On Earth! The holiday season in Hershey, Pa., kicks off on Nov. 15, 2024, with the opening of Hersheypark Christmas Candylane holiday attraction and Hershey Sweet Lights drive-through attraction with new displays and theming experiences.

Visitors can enjoy a unique blend of only-in-Hershey offerings around town this holiday season, including the most lights in Pennsylvania, the only place in the Northeast to see all nine of Santa’s reindeer, seasonal attractions, holiday concerts and shows, championship hockey, seasonal spa treatments, festive dining and of course, signature hot chocolate.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

A holiday tradition for more than 40 years, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane opens to the public on select dates from Nov. 15, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025, with daily operations starting Dec. 12 (closed Christmas Day). Hours vary by day.

The seasonal event features five million lights, select family rides and thrilling coasters, a new home for Santa and all nine of his reindeer, TREEville trail (opens Dec. 6) and festive Hershey Character Meet and Greet opportunities - all included with a ticket. Guests can also warm up with more hot chocolate varieties than ever, with signature hot chocolate, new boozy hot chocolate offerings and a hot chocolate bar with dessert toppers. One-of-a-kind sweet treats, including a new Kissmas TREEts Collectible snack container, are also available. 

• Most Lights in Pennsylvania: More than five million sparkling lights deck the halls of the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania in celebration of the season. The guest-favorite NOEL light show featuring dancing lights choreographed to Christmas music returns nightly at 5 p.m. in The Hollow region overlooking Spring Creek.
• Unique Ride Offerings: Guests can enjoy holiday thrills on seven coasters, including Wildcat’s Revenge hybrid coaster and Candymonium coaster with holiday light packages, Jolly Rancher Remix coaster with a holiday overlay and new cinnamon scent, sooperdooperLooper, Wild Mouse, Cocoa Cruiser coasters and the glowing Laff Trakk indoor coaster, which is decorated for the holidays with a large Christmas tree in the center. Weather permitting, family-friendly rides and holiday favorites are also available. Guests can take a ride on Dry Gulch Railroad attraction to see the 12 Days of Christmas and additional light displays or take in the lights from above on the Ferris Wheel and Hershey Triple Tower rides, both featuring holiday light packages. 
• Santa and All Nine Reindeer: For more than 25 years, Rudolph and his friends have made a special stop at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. New this year, Santa and his reindeer will be in a themed location together, where guests can get their photo with Santa, enjoy an interactive experience with his elves and learn about the reindeer. Hersheypark is the only place in the Northeast with this magical experience featuring all nine of Santa’s reindeer.
• Hershey Characters Sweet Greets: Visitors can stop by the heated Chevrolet Music Box Theatre venue to meet their favorite Hershey Characters donning their coziest winter apparel and snap a photo. 
• TREEville Trail: Starting Dec. 6, guests can experience TREEville trail, a strolling holiday adventure experience in The Boardwalk At Hersheypark region with more than a dozen uniquely decorated trees sharing stories of The Sweetest Place On Earth. New this year, guests can see the 50-foot Kissmas Tree in this location - a sweet photo opportunity!
• Hot Chocolate and Seasonal Eats: Delicious seasonal offerings include the popular Hot Chocolate Bar and new King Size Shake flavors at Simply Chocolate dessert shop, and Holidogs hot dogs at Berks Hot Dog Stand. New this year, guests ages 21 and older can purchase boozy hot chocolate at a bar near the Santa and reindeer experiences. An all-new Kissmas TREEts Collectible sweets container featuring multiple layered compartments of handmade goodies like a Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree, Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies, Caramel Corn, Peppermint Bark and more is also available for purchase as a sweet souvenir. 

For the fourth consecutive year, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane has been nominated for Best Theme Park Holiday Event in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Award contest. Vote for us through Dec. 2 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Guests can save more than 45% on Christmas Candylane tickets online with the current Countdown to Candylane Pre-Sale through Nov. 15. The tickets purchased during the offer are valid through Jan. 1, 2025. 

Current 2024 Season Pass Holders can enjoy unlimited visits to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane as part of their year-long perks. 2025 Season Passes are on sale now with a Season Pass+ option that includes unlimited visits and perks to Hersheypark for the remainder of the 2024 operating year and all of 2025 - a great gift idea, too! 

Hershey Sweet Lights Presented by PPL 

Just outside Hersheypark is the separately ticketed Hershey Sweet Lights presented by PPL drive-through attraction. Hershey Sweet Lights begins Nov. 15-17 and then is open nightly from Nov. 22 through Jan. 1, 2025; hours vary. 

From the comfort of their cars, guests can enjoy two miles of fields and wooded trails decorated with nearly 600 illuminated, animated displays, such as The 12 Days of Christmas, an Enchanted Forest and Hersheypark rides.  

New for 2024, Hershey Sweet Lights features three custom Hershey-themed displays depicting Wildcat’s Revenge hybrid coaster, Jolly Rancher Remix coaster and Hershey Bears hockey, as well as an all-new region inspired by the Northern Lights. Guests can also enjoy a new arrival experience with festive food and retail bundles for purchase, enhancements to the Victorian Village portion of the attraction, and a new Candy Cane Forest exit boasting uplit trees and light displays. 

Admission for a single car with up to 8 people ranges from $29.99 to $39.99 (varies by day) plus tax when purchased in advance online before 5 p.m. on the day of the visit. Admission for vans that seat 9-15 people is $52.15 plus tax. On-site pricing without a pre-purchased ticket is $49.15 plus tax. 

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, an 11-acre zoo that cares for more than 200 animals, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). The holiday season is a great time to visit as many North American animals in the outdoor habitats, like the gray wolves, river otters and Canada Lynx, are more active when the temperature drops. ZooAmerica is included with a Hersheypark ticket only by accessing the Zoo through the Hersheypark bridge during Park hours. Separate Zoo tickets are available for purchase online.

Festive Dining Experiences at The Chocolatier

A Breakfast with Santa experience is available at The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio on Saturdays and Sundays with select Fridays from Nov. 29 through Dec. 22 and Dec. 24 from 8-10 a.m. Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet with hints of chocolate, kids' activities and holiday family fun while seeing Santa and a few of his elves. Reservations are required.

Back by popular demand is Holiday Spirit’s Rooftop Bar at The Chocolatier starting Nov. 15 and operating on Christmas Candylane evenings. The festive patio event features spiked hot chocolate for guests ages 21 and older, over-the-top hot chocolate for kids, a Chocuterie board to make your own hot chocolate, a tabletop s’mores kit and more overlooking the Chocolatetown region. 

The Official Resorts of Hersheypark

Visitors looking to extend their stay in The Sweetest Place On Earth can book a holiday getaway at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark: The Hotel Hershey luxury accommodation, Hershey Lodge resort and Hersheypark Camping Resort campground.

Guests can take in the beauty of the resorts’ stunning holiday décor while sipping hot cocoa or signature Hershey’s Chocolate Martinis in front of the grand four-sided fireplace at Hershey Lodge or relaxing in the poinsettia-filled Fountain Lobby at The Hotel Hershey. Gorgeous towering trees decorated with chocolate-inspired ornaments make for beautiful backdrops for holiday photos at both properties - a tradition for many guests. Guests can also enjoy holiday spa treatments, seasonal dining and cocktails, and holiday-themed resort activities, including a tree lighting ceremony with the Hershey Characters at The Hotel Hershey to kick off the season.

This season is also the first opportunity for guests to experience the holidays at The Villas At The Hotel Hershey elevated luxury accommodation that opened earlier this summer with all-new exclusive amenities, including a concierge lounge with food, drinks and activities, daily Hersheypark tickets and more. 

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane packages featuring deluxe accommodations, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane tickets and breakfast are available at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge. All guests receive Free Resort Benefits like free front gate shuttle service and extra preview hours. Overnight guests of Hershey Lodge receive exclusive access to Hershey’s Water Works at Hershey Lodge indoor pool complex. 

Sports and Entertainment in Hershey

Hockey fans can cheer for the hometown back-to-back Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears AHL team as they fight to three-peat this season. The Bears host 13 home games at GIANT Center arena in November and December. Single-game tickets starting at $16 are available online.

A variety of concerts and shows also take place at GIANT Center and Hershey Theatre venue in November and December. 

• Nov. 7: The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine Presents Swan Lake at Hershey Theatre
• Nov. 8: Jim Gaffigan at GIANT Center
• Nov. 8: Air Supply at Hershey Theatre
• Nov. 12: Jessie Murph - In The Sticks Part II at Hershey Theatre
• Nov. 17: Pentatonix: Hallelujah! It’s A Christmas Tour at GIANT Center
• Nov. 22: Derek Hough at Hershey Theatre
• Nov. 23: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve at GIANT Center
• Nov. 26-Dec. 8: HAMILTON at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 11: Straight No Chaser Top Shelf Tour at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 12: Jeff Dunham Artificial Intelligence at GIANT Center
• Dec. 14: Hershey Symphony Holiday Spectacular at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 15: Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 17: Leslie Odom, Jr. - The Christmas Tour at Hershey Theatre
• Dec. 21-22: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Presents The Nutcracker at Hershey Theatre

Seasonal Spa Treatments

Both MeltSpa by Hershey day spa and The Spa At The Hotel Hershey resort spa offer collections inspired by the season to relieve the hustle and bustle of the holidays. 

Starting Nov. 1, visitors to The Spa At The Hotel Hershey can experience the Holiday Season Sampler, a seasonal spa package that includes three treatments filled with the sweet aromas of the season. From Dec. 1 through Jan. 31, guests can indulge in treatments like the Peppermint Hot Chocolate Immersion, a combination of an exfoliating Peppermint Scrub followed by a Chocolate Fondue Body Wrap.

Beginning Dec. 1, MeltSpa by Hershey will offer treatments from its Cranberry Spice seasonal collection. Signature dark chocolate treatments and other classic spa services will also be available. 

Around Town

Other attractions around town, including The Hershey Story Museum on Chocolate Avenue, Hershey Gardens and Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction, also offer special holiday events and promotions.