The Ultimate Hershey, PA Summer 2024 Guide
Things To Do In The Sweetest Place On Earth This Summer
Whether you are local to the area or visiting for the first time, Hershey is bustling with world-class attractions, luxury resorts and spas, live concerts and Broadway shows, premier dining venues, shopping and endless chocolate to keep your entire family engaged and having fun. Come with us as we explore what's new for 2024 and show you just how fun a summer spent in Hershey can truly be.
Head to Hersheypark Amusement Park, Open Daily This Summer
Hersheypark, an iconic 121-acre amusement park in Hershey, Pa., is open daily for the summer season through Sept. 2. Summer tickets include admission to three parks in one with more than 70 rides, an 11-acre water park and a North American Wildlife Park.
The summer ride lineup features 15 mild to wild coasters, various family-friendly attractions and more than 20 kiddie rides spread throughout the Park. New for 2024, thrill seekers can enjoy new ride experiences on Skyrush and Comet. Plus, roller coaster lovers who didn't get a chance to visit last year can conquer Wildcat’s Revenge this summer. The 15th coaster and first hybrid at Hersheypark joined an iconic coaster collection when it opened in June 2023. 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.
2024 also marks the 50th anniversary of the Hershey Characters at Hersheypark. To celebrate this milestone, a new Character show will run from June 22 through Aug. 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.
Given the incredible value included with a Hersheypark ticket, guests often choose to spend multiple days at Hersheypark to ensure enough time to experience all of the summer fun. There are a few options for purchasing Hersheypark tickets.
A Season Pass is the best value for people planning to spend more than three days at the Park. A Bite Size Season Pass is essentially a three-day ticket with 50 percent off parking, while Full Size and King Size Season Passes include free parking and additional perks like 1-hour early access and discounts on food, beverage and retail.
Guests can save on Hersheypark tickets when purchasing them on Hersheypark.com with our current offers. Two-day tickets offer the best ticket value and do not need to be used on consecutive days. To provide flexibility for guests, 1-Day Any Day Tickets purchased online are valid any day during the 2024 public operating season through Jan. 1, 2025. As a reminder, resort guests receive the best price on Hersheypark tickets.
Make a Splash at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark
Included with a Hersheypark ticket, Park-goers can beat the summer heat by cooling off at The Boardwalk, a water park inside Hersheypark with one million gallons of water and 16 water attractions. Guests can shoot through one of six water slides at Coastline Plunge, take a ride on Breakers Edge water coaster, float down a lazy river, catch a wave in the 378,000-gallon wave pool, play with 600 interactive water features in East Coast Waterworks or race friends on Whitecap Racer.
Families with young children can splash and play all day at three kiddie attractions in the water park. Sandcastle Cove features water slides, cannons, water curtains, jets, and a pool that reaches depths of 18 inches. Shoreline Sprayground is a water playground with misters, bubblers, dancing fountains, spraying jets, water curtains and a drenching tipping bucket. Bayside Pier is a great attraction for the youngest guests, with a zero-depth entry ramp and splash area.
Visit Animals at ZooAmerica
ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is an 11-acre, walk-through zoo that cares for more than 200 animals representing over 60 species from five regions of North America. Guests can see black bears, wolves, river otters, Canada lynx, elk, an American alligator, an ocelot and many other animals native to this continent.
ZooAmerica is open daily this summer from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 2. Regular admission to ZooAmerica is $16.50 plus taxes and fees. Juniors ages 3-8 and seniors ages 62+ are $14.50 plus taxes and fees. Children 2 and under are free. Hersheypark tickets include ZooAmerica only when accessing the Zoo through the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. The Zoo is the perfect place for families visiting Hersheypark to take a quick break from the thrills.
Enjoy First Class Entertainment
The historic Hersheypark Stadium is celebrating its 85th anniversary this summer with the longest summer concert series to date. Built in 1939, Hersheypark Stadium will host a record-breaking 14 concerts this summer with something for every music lover. 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.
Concerts this summer at Hersheypark Stadium:
- Hootie & the Blowfish, June 28
- Justin Timberlake, July 4
- Janet Jackson, July 6
- Outlaw Music Festival, July 7
- Foo Fighters, July 23
- Journey & Def Leppard, July 25
- Five Finger Death Punch, Aug. 2
- New Kids On The Block, Aug. 3
- Creed, Aug. 23
- Pitbull, Aug. 24
- Green Day, Sept. 2 (previously scheduled for Aug. 10)
- Post Malone, Sept. 20
- Stevie Nicks, Sept. 28 (previously scheduled for June 15)
- P!NK, Oct. 1
Shows this summer at GIANT Center:
- Melanie Martinez, July 31
- KIDZ Bop Live, Aug. 4
- Phil Wickham & Brandon Lake: Summer Worship Nights, Aug. 8
Shows this summer at Hershey Theatre:
- Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks, June 20
- Donny Osmond, July 2
- Christopher Cross & Justin Hayward, July 9
- Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, July 18
- Idina Menzel, Aug. 16
- Joe Bonamassa, Aug. 21
Eat on the Patio at The Chocolatier
With fun indoor booth seating themed around Comet and Tilt-A-Whirl and an outdoor patio offering one-of-a-kind views of Candymonium, the iconic Kisses Fountain and our 105-year-old Carrousel, The Chocolatier is a visual experience like no other. An open kitchen serves up classic family fare with a fun Hershey twist. Indulge in a Reese’s Take5 Chicken Sandwich, Heath Bar Crusted Salmon or Cocoa-Dusted Beef Short Ribs along with your Hershey's candy-inspired milkshakes, sundaes and desserts. One thing is for certain: a trip to The Chocolatier is sure to be as fun as it is delicious.
For summer reservations and dining information, visit The Chocolatier webpage. Reservations are not required for outdoor patio dining. To re-enter Hersheypark after enjoying the patio, make sure to get your hand stamped. Check out the special patio menu.
Dine A Fresco at Houlihan’s Restaurant + Bar and Devon Steak + Seafood
Summer means outdoor dining in Hershey is in full swing. Visitors to Hershey can head downtown and enjoy the views of the Hershey’s Kisses-shaped street lights from the patios of Devon Seafood + Steak and Houlihan’s Restaurant + Bar. With a wide array of menu items and signature drinks, a night under the Hershey’s Kisses lights will undoubtedly be as beautiful as it is memorable.
For more dining inspiration during your time in Hershey, please take a look at our summer guide to outdoor dining in Hershey.
Relax At The Spa
Indulge in summer relaxation at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey resort spa and MeltSpa by Hershey day spa with signature chocolate treatments and seasonal treatment collections. Summer packages at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey include the Vacation For A Day Package, Citrus Sensation Package and Sweet Summer Sampler. MeltSpa by Hershey is excited to bring back a guest favorite, the Summer Strawberry Collection, featuring a Summer Strawberry Body Scrub, Immersion, Manicure and Pedicure. These seasonal summer packages and treatments are available through Aug. 31.
Looking to have a spa day the Hershey way? Guests can revel in one-of-a-kind chocolate spa treatments at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey with sweet treatments like the Chocolate Fondue Wrap, Cocoa Massage and Whipped Cocoa Bath. Or, they can head to MeltSpa for their exclusive Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Treatments. Treatments such as a body wrap, sugar scrub, immersion, manicure and pedicure are infused with Hershey’s dark chocolate and will leave spa visitors feeling refreshed and smelling sweet.
Where to Stay in Hershey
As you can see, there is so much to do during a visit to Hershey that many guests spend the night (or two, or three, or more). Really, what could be better than spending the night in The Sweetest Place On Earth? Booking a sweet getaway at one of our three Official Resorts of Hersheypark is the perfect way to kick off your summer! Guests can save on a stay with popular summer packages, including the guest-favorite Kids Stay, Play & Eat Free Package at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge or the Hersheypark Summer Camping Package at Hersheypark Camping Resort.
The sweetest part about choosing to stay at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark is the FREE Resort Benefits, including extra hours at Hersheypark with Sweet Start available through Sept. 8 and Preview Plan, and free front-gate shuttle service to the exclusive resort drop-off location at Hersheypark.
The Hotel Hershey
Opened by chocolatier Milton S. Hershey in 1933, The Hotel Hershey is known for its refined elegance, signature service and abundant amenities and is a recipient of the Forbes Four-Star Award and the AAA Four-Diamond Award. The Hotel is right across the street from Hersheypark and situated high atop the town of Hershey. Guests at the hotel can enjoy delicious dining, sweet relaxation at a chocolate spa, and experience a variety of recreational activities, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sports complex, falconry and miles of hiking trails. For more information about this beautiful and historic property, check out The Hotel Hershey summer guide.
The Villas At The Hotel Hershey
Just in time for summer, a new luxury accommodation - The Villas at The Hotel Hershey - is now open with all-new exclusive amenities for guests to enjoy. Ten Villas feature 48 reimagined rooms with refreshed furnishings and unmatched amenities, including an all-new exclusive concierge lounge with food, drinks and activities, daily Hersheypark tickets and One-Day Fast Track. Construction is underway on nine new Villas, which will add 50 new sleeping rooms and even more luxury as part of the Official Resorts of Hersheypark in late 2025. This expansion marks the second-largest investment in the 90-year history of The Hotel Hershey.
Take a look inside The Villas and explore the daily schedule of exclusive activities and offerings for guests.
Hershey Lodge
Warm, welcoming, and distinctly Hershey, Hershey Lodge provides convenience and comfort for families and guests of all ages with sweet hospitality and chocolate around every corner. A guest favorite, Hershey's Water Works indoor water complex features a Reese's Water Walk, Twizzlers Twists water slides and a zero-entry pool for unlimited family fun. Families will also enjoy recreational amenities and activities like miniature golf and chocolate bingo. To learn more about this kid-friendly property, check out our Hershey Lodge summer guide.
Hersheypark Camping Resort
Hershey is also home to Hersheypark Camping Resort for guests looking to stay in a log or deluxe cabin, park an RV at a partial or full hook-up site or pitch a tent along the creek. The campground offers more than 300 open and shaded sites situated among 55 acres of emerald hills, including a brand new tiny home - perfect for campers looking for a modern and trendy experience. During the summer, campers can enjoy splashes at two pools and a kiddie pool, as well as fun-filled activities like outdoor movies, crafts and animal encounters hosted by ZooAmerica. To learn more about camping in Hershey, check out the Hersheypark Camping Resort summer guide.
Explore Other Hershey Must-Sees
Hershey Gardens
Guests can embrace the summer season by visiting 23 acres of beautiful blooming plant life at Hershey Gardens. Open daily, Hershey Gardens is home to 11-themed gardens, seasonal displays, and an assortment of flowers, shrubs, and trees for guests of all ages to enjoy with various summer events, including Music in the Gardens. Kids can immerse themselves in the Children’s Garden and Butterfly Atrium or get up close and personal with crawling creatures inside the Conservatory’s Zoology Zone.
Tickets to Hershey Gardens are included with a stay at Hershey Lodge and The Hotel Hershey and discounted with a stay at Hersheypark Camping Resort. Visitors can purchase general admission tickets.
The Hershey Story Museum
Visitors to The Hershey Story Museum can learn the story of our founder and chocolate pioneer, Milton S. Hershey, his wife Catherine, and the town of Hershey through exhibits, artifacts and interactive experiences. Visitors can also make and decorate chocolate in the Chocolate Lab for an additional fee or sip chocolates from around the world during Chocolate Tastings. New this year, visitors can now learn the fascinating story of William E. “Bill” Dearden at a special exhibit called “From Hershey Industrial School to Hershey CEO: The Story of Bill Dearden.”
Open daily, The Hershey Story tickets are included with your stay at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge and discounted with a stay at Hershey Camping Resort. Tickets may also be purchased at the museum's main entrance.
HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD
Hershey’s Chocolate World is open daily this summer (view hours here). During your visit, experience the new HERSHEY'S Great Candy Expedition. This one-of-a-kind train-themed adventure will take you and your family on a fantastical journey through colorful lands inspired by all your favorite Hershey candies, and you get to help choose its path! Do not forget to make your candy dreams a reality at the Create Your Own Candy Bar experience or indulge in some of the delicious food and drink offerings Hershey's Chocolate World has to offer.
Join Our Team This Summer
There is still time to secure your sweet summer job in The Sweetest Place On Earth! Visit our Careers site to explore current opportunities to join our team.
Remember to share all your summer fun with us on social media using #HersheyPA!