Hersheypark Now Open Daily as Summer 2024 Starts in Hershey, PA

How sweet it is - Summer starts this holiday weekend in The Sweetest Place On Earth!

Hersheypark amusement park is now open every day from May 23 (Memorial Day Weekend) through Sept. 2 (Labor Day), with more summer hours, new coaster ride experiences on Skyrush and Comet, new entertainment offerings celebrating 50 years of Hershey Characters and more. The Boardwalk At Hersheypark water park will also open over the holiday weekend on May 25.

But that's not all! Phase one of The Villas at The Hotel Hershey luxury accommodations is now open. Ten Villas feature reimagined rooms, new amenities like a lounge and a Hersheypark experience including Park tickets and One-Day Fast Track program. This two-phased expansion marks the second-largest investment in the 90-year history of The Hotel Hershey.

For music lovers, the longest summer concert series to date is underway at Hersheypark Stadium during its 85th operating year. 

Keep reading to learn more about why it’s an exciting summer to visit Hershey, Pa. 

Three Parks In One

The amusement park of every chocolate lover's dreams features three parks in one – all accessible via a single admission this summer. 

Hersheypark

The largest amusement park in Pennsylvania has something for everyone, whether you are a first-time rider or coaster conqueror. More than 70 family-friendly rides, including 15 coasters, are open this summer, weather and maintenance permitting. New for 2024, thrill seekers can enjoy new ride experiences on two iconic coasters, Skyrush and Comet. 

Last summer, Hersheypark debuted Wildcat’s Revenge coaster, its 15th coaster and first hybrid, as part of an iconic coaster collection. Wildcat’s Revenge won the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster of 2023 and ranked #4 in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers Choice Awards for Best Roller Coaster in 2024.

Some popular attractions are also celebrating milestone anniversaries this year, including 50 years of the family-friendly Trailblazer coaster, 25 years of the Wild Mouse and Music Express attractions, and 15 years since the “Seaquel” expansion at The Boardwalk added the wave pool, lazy river and cabanas.

2024 also marks the 50th anniversary of the Hershey Characters at Hersheypark. To celebrate this milestone, a new Character show will run daily from June 22 through August 18, making it the first summer entertainment offering in Chevrolet Music Box Theatre since 2019. 

Other entertainment offerings included with a ticket include daily Hershey Character meet and greets and Our Friends From The Sea shows. Details are listed in the Hersheypark app. 

Guests often come for the rides but stay for the treats at Hersheypark! This summer, the Hersheypark culinary team has whipped up some delectable savory offerings - from Nashville Hot Chicken Garlic Knots and Flatbread at Dispatch pizzeria to a rotating burger of the month at East Coast Burger Works location and three coaster dogs at the Berks stand. Anyone who didn't visit during Spring Weekends has to swing by Simply Chocolate to try one of the four new King Size Shake flavors for a sweet treat. 

In Hershey's Chocolatetown, The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio is open daily this summer (hours vary) for guests with or without a Hersheypark ticket to enjoy lunch or dinner. New seasonal favorites include a Sticky Rib "Basket," Peach and Prosciutto Flatbread, Strawberry Milkshake and Mini Martini Flight. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Milton's Ice Cream Parlor and The Sweeterie Confectionery Kitchen are also open daily for 100% local dairy house-made ice cream, new sandwiches and decadent chocolate desserts.

Check out the 2024 Summer Food Guide for more delicious details.

The Boardwalk Water Park

Speaking of The Boardwalk, did you know Hersheypark is home to an 11-acre water park with one million gallons of water? It is open daily from May 25 through Sept. 2, 2024, for Hersheypark guests looking to cool off on a hot summer day.

The water park features 16 water attractions, including a lazy river, wave pool, water slides and splash areas of varying depths. One of the most popular water attractions is East Coast Waterworks, modeled after the iconic boardwalks along the East Coast and offering more than 600 interactive water features alone. The biggest splash comes from a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. If that is not enough thrill, water park visitors can race on Whitecap Racer mat racing slide, one of the longest in the world, and rocket through hills, tunnels and turns on Breakers Edge HydroMAGNETIC water coaster.

Check out the 2024 Guide to The Boardwalk for more information.

ZooAmerica

Park-goers can take a break from the thrills by visiting ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park to see dozens of animals native to North America, from black bears to river otters and Canada lynx. ZooAmerica is included in the one-price admission to Hersheypark only when accessed through the Hersheypark bridge during posted Park hours. 

Guests interested in visiting ZooAmerica before the Park opens must purchase separate Zoo tickets. Regular admission for guests ages 9-61 is $16.50 plus taxes and fees. Admission for juniors ages 3-8 and seniors ages 62+ is $14.50 plus taxes and fees. Children 2 and under are free. ZooAmerica Pass Holders can enjoy unlimited year-round visits to the Zoo, and 2024 Hersheypark Season Pass Holders get into the Zoo for free, too.

Visit Hersheypark All Summer Long

Great ticket offers are available on Hersheypark.com, but with so much Hersheypark Happy to be had, why not visit all summer long?

The all-new Summer Fun Card, available online for $114 plus taxes and fees, allows guests to enjoy unlimited visits to Hersheypark through Sept. 8. A limited number are available, so guests are encouraged to buy now. 

It is also the final chance to save on 2024 Season Passes for unlimited visits all year. Season Passes are on sale with a four-month payment plan option through May 27.

Book a Summer Getaway

Visitors looking to extend their stay in The Sweetest Place On Earth can book a sweet getaway at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark: The Hotel Hershey luxury accommodation, Hershey Lodge family resort and Hersheypark Camping Resort campground. Guests can save on a multi-night stay with popular summer packages, including Kids Stay, Play & Eat FREE Package and 2-Day Stay And Play Package at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge. Two Summer Fun Packages that include deluxe accommodations and the new Hersheypark Summer Fun Card for unlimited Park visits are also available for booking. 

All guests of The Official Resorts of Hersheypark receive FREE Resort Benefits, including extra hours at Hersheypark with Sweet Start and Preview Plan, free front-gate shuttle service to the exclusive resort drop-off location, indoor and outdoor pools, resort recreation and activities and more.

First Phase of The Villas at The Hotel Hershey Open May 23

Phase one of The Villas at The Hotel Hershey, an elevated luxury accommodation experience with all-new exclusive amenities, opens Memorial Day Weekend. The 10 Villas feature 48 reimagined rooms with refreshed furnishings and unmatched amenities including an all-new exclusive lounge with food, drinks and activities, daily Hersheypark tickets and One-Day Fast Track. Take a look inside The Villas at The Hotel Hershey.

Construction is underway on nine new Villas, which will add 50 new sleeping rooms. Slated to open in late 2025, The Villas will offer even more luxury as part of The Official Resorts of Hersheypark.

Longest Summer Concert Series to Date Underway

The historic Hersheypark Stadium marked its 85th anniversary this month with the longest summer concert series to date. 

Built in 1939, Hersheypark Stadium will host a record-breaking 14 concerts this summer. There is something for every music lover, from Pink, Justin Timberlake and Green Day to Foo Fighters, Stevie Nicks and Creed. Few places offer guests the opportunity to enjoy coasters all day and see shows outdoors at night!

GIANT Center and Hershey Theatre venues also welcome an incredible summer entertainment lineup, including Melanie Martinez, Kidz Bop, Donny Osmond, Idina Menzel, Joe Bonamassa and more.

Summer Spa Relaxation

Starting June 1, visitors can indulge in summer relaxation with seasonal treatments at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey resort spa and MeltSpa by Hershey day spa. 

Seasonal summer packages at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey include the Vacation For A Day Package, Citrus Sensation Package, Sweet Summer Sampler, Men’s Day Spa Package and Farmhouse Fresh Watermelon Basil Vodkatini Manicure and Pedicure. 

MeltSpa by Hershey is bringing back the Summer Strawberry Collection, featuring a Summer Strawberry Parfait Body Scrub, Immersion, Manicure and more. 

Around Town

HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD Attraction is open daily this summer and offers new menu items, exclusive in-store merchandise and events for those traveling to its flagship location this summer. Hours vary by day. 

Hershey Gardens is open daily at 9 a.m. with various summer events, including Music in the Gardens.

The Hershey Story Museum on Chocolate Avenue is open daily at 9 a.m. for guests to explore the history of Hershey in an educational and immersive environment. Visitors can now learn the fascinating story of William E. “Bill” Dearden at a new, special exhibit called “From Hershey Industrial School to Hershey CEO: The Story of Bill Dearden.” 

We hope to see you this summer in The Sweetest Place On Earth! Share your sweet Hershey memories with us on social media by using #HersheyPA and tagging @TheSweetestPlaceOnEarth on Instagram and @HersheyPA on X during your visit.