Hersheypark Christmas Candylane Nominated for 2023 Best Theme Park Holiday Event in U.S.

For the third consecutive year, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane has been nominated for Best Theme Park Holiday Event in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Award contest. And what a sweet nominated, as 2023 marks the 40th year of this annual Christmas experience that guests can only find in Hershey!

Hersheypark is one of twenty nominees across the country chosen by a panel of relevant experts, including editors from USA TODAY, editors from 10Best.com, relevant expert contributors, and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties. The contest gives voters four weeks to vote for the candidate of their choice. 

We need your support! If you love Christmas Candylane, vote here for us once each day before voting ends on November 29.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane 

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is open to the public on select dates from Nov. 10, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024, with daily operations starting Dec. 14 (closed Christmas Day). The seasonal event at the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania offers more weekend hours for holiday fun in 2023. 

During Christmas Candylane, Hersheypark is decked with more than 5 million lights - the most in the state - including a dazzling NOEL light show with more than 250,000 dancing lights synchronized to Christmas music. Christmas Candylane is also the only place in the Northeast where guests can see all nine of Santa's reindeer, including Rudolph.

And oh, what fun it is to ride! Hersheypark offers a unique blend of family-friendly rides and seven thrilling coasters, weather permitting, including the new-for-2023 Wildcat’s Revenge. The Park's first hybrid coaster, and the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania, opened this summer and is available with unique light packages for all seasons.

Guests can also enjoy signature hot chocolate and other sweet treats, holiday shopping in Hershey’s Chocolatetown region, an interactive experience and photo with Santa through Dec. 24, a new Mrs. Claus' Dance Party, and Hershey Characters Sweet Greets inside the heated Chevrolet Music Box Theatre.

Visit This Holiday Season

Tickets starting at $29.99 are available with the Hersheypark 12 Days of Christmas Pre-Sale from Nov. 1-12 online. Prices vary based on the number of tickets purchased and the date selected. Guests purchasing 1-3 tickets can save with tickets starting at $36.99, and guests purchasing 4+ tickets can save with tickets starting at $29.99. General Any-Day 2023 tickets can be used on any operating day through Jan. 1, 2024.

Current 2023 Season Pass Holders can enjoy unlimited visits to Christmas Candylane as part of their year-long perks. 2024 Season Passes are on sale now with a Season Pass+ option that includes unlimited visits and perks to Hersheypark for the remainder of the 2023 operating year and all of 2024 - a great gift idea, too!