Month-by-Month Guide to Visiting Hershey, PA
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Visiting Hershey year-round is full of treats, delights and fun
Spring of 2022 is here, and there's no better time to dive into a year of fun in Hershey, PA! While the summer season is when Hersheypark shines the brightest and Christmastime in Hershey is magical, there are delights to be found every single month of the year at Hershey, The Sweetest Place on Earth. Read on for the month-by-month guide to visiting Hershey year-round and make some fantastic family plans.
April not only is when Springtime In The Park typically opens, but this is my favorite month to visit the Hershey Gardens! Spring blooms are sprouting up and there is no crazy summer heat to beat! Take your time meandering around the grounds, enjoying the beautiful sights (we love the Children's Garden!), and enjoying some fresh air after a long winter. This is also a great month to book a stay at The Hersheypark Camping Resort. If it's still too chilly at night for your family, they do have heated cabins available, and you can spend the daytime exploring all their outdoor amenities.
May will see Hersheypark open weekends and then daily after Memorial Day, and this is a wonderful time to visit if crowds and heat bother you. The Boardwalk (waterpark) won't open until Memorial Day weekend, but you can enjoy all the rest the park has to offer! Don't forget to schedule a special spa visit for Mom for Mother's Day as part of your trip!
June finds Hersheypark fully open, every day, with The Boardwalk open as well! There is so much to do at Hersheypark, you can easily fill two days there, if not more. And don't forget to take advantage of their Preview Plan that comes with any day ticket--visit the park a couple of hours before closing time the night before you go for the whole day. A super way to sneak in some more coaster-riding time!
July is the thick of the summer season and the fun at Hersheypark is still going strong. We love booking a stay at one of the Official Resorts of Hersheypark during this time because it allows us to use the free shuttle to visit the park and take a break away from the thrum of activity as needed. By staying on property, you can also take advantage of the Sweet Start, which allows you to get into the park an hour before opening time, which is another fabulous way to beat the crowds and get some more ride-time in!
August is also all-about Hersheypark-going, but don't forget about all of the other many attractions; The Hershey Story, The Hershey Theatre and Hershey Gardens are still open, and Summer is prime season for an incredible line-up of concerts at the Giant Center (adjacent to Hersheypark). These are all great activities to combine with a trip to Hersheypark or do independently depending on your schedule!
September is my sister's (a long-time season pass holder!) favorite time of the year to visit Hershey. She loves that the crowds are lower and the days are a bit cooler. Popping in on a weekend is a great time to escape fall activity craziness with some laughs and family fun. It's a lovely way to enjoy the last of the summer season before the Halloween events kick up.
October brings Hersheypark in the Dark. We love visiting Hershey as they celebrate Halloween! The decorations are wow-worthy, and there is a superbly well-themed Trick or Treat trail every year--it even extends into Hershey's Chocolate World! Our favorite part is the "dark rides". A handful of rides throughout the park have all the lights turned off which makes for a very cool, thrilling experience! With the newly added fog machines, the effect is truly unique and special for this time of year!
November sees the start of Christmas in Hershey, which is jam-packed with family-friendly experiences to make for a magical holiday! While Hersheypark doesn't traditionally open Christmas Candylane until mid-November, earlier in November can be a smart time to visit and enjoy seasonal activities before the crowds build. Take a day and visit Hershey's Chocolatetown and Hershey's Chocolate World and explore the town of Hershey while enjoying the holiday lights and decor. Hershey Bears games will have also started by the end of October--go cheer them on before all the hustle and bustle kicks in!
December is all about Christmas Candylane. It's such a sweet way to delight in the season with your family. Hersheypark is full of delicious treats--the hot chocolate bar is awesome! The lights are incredible (especially the light show set to music!), the rides are running and there are also unique-to-Christmas experiences, like visiting Santa and meeting his nine reindeer and TREEVILLE, a walk-through experience with more than a dozen decorated trees sharing the stories of The Sweetest Place On Earth! And make sure to pop over to Hershey Sweet Lights, a two-mile Christmas lights drive-thru--amazing!
January is one of our favorite times to visit Hershey. The crowds from the holidays have dispersed, making it easier to snag reservations for the attractions at Hershey's Chocolate World and at the snazzy new The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio. It's also a great time to catch a Hershey Bears game, and combine all of these activities for the perfect day trip!
February is a great month to treat your family to a weekend getaway! The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge offer a respite from the winter chill with heated indoor pools, delicious restaurants, and cozy accommodations. Even better, escape by yourself for a few hours to The Spa at The Hotel Hershey or the Meltspa! If an overnight trip isn't in the cards, you can still make a wonderful day of it by shopping for treats in Hershey's Chocolatetown, visiting Hershey's Chocolate World, and Hershey Bears games are still going strong!
March will hopefully see temps starting to warm up, and depending on when Easter falls, Springtime In The Park might be open, which means you can visit Hersheypark! It's also a good time to get tickets to a show at the Hershey Theatre and visit The Hershey Story (museum). By March, the chance of bad weather is lower, so I feel more comfortable buying tickets in advance and it's a fun time to walk around the town of Hershey a bit, where both the theater and the museum are located. Lots of fabulous restaurants there too without the peak season draws!
No matter what month you touch down in The Sweetest Place on Earth, your family will have a fantastic time! Visiting Hershey year-round is full of treats, delights and fun. Go plan your visit now!