Things To Do in Hershey, PA in September 2023

Welcome, September! There are so many things to do in Hershey, Pa this month now that fall activities are shifting into full gear! Keep reading to learn more about our top picks. 

End the Summer at Hersheypark  on Select Days Through Sept. 10

As summer comes to a close, there is still time to seize the season with a visit to the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania for water park splashes (through Sept. 4), coaster rides, King Size Shakes and more. Hersheypark is open daily through Sept. 4 and then the weekend of Sept. 9-10 (hours vary) for one last summer hurrah before the Park transforms for Halloween. 

Hersheypark Halloween  and Dark Nights  Open Sept. 15

Hersheypark amusement park marks the return of Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights immersive haunt experience this month. The seasonal event runs for seven weekends from Sept. 15 through Oct. 29, with family-friendly offerings during the day and frights at night.

New this year, Hersheypark Halloween tickets include 50 rides weather permitting, lights-out rides on select coasters, trick-or-treating, festive Hershey Character experiences and more for families, PLUS entry to all five Dark Nights haunted houses and three Scare Zones featuring all-new and evolved stories.

Fall Dining in Hersheypark  and Hershey’s Chocolatetown

Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights will debut all-new dining experiences and food offerings starting Sept. 15 with more than 55 themed items. From a Dark Nights Tasting Pass and an RIP Dinner Buffet to an exclusive Spirit’s Rooftop Bar event at The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio, the options inside the Park this year are frightfully delicious.

The Dark Nights Tasting Pass includes a choice of up to five specialty menu items from more than 35 food and beverage options at more than 15 locations throughout the Park, such as Toxic Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork Sliders, Blood Orange Lemonade, Black Velvet Cake and more. Guests can purchase the Tasting Pass online or in person, they will receive a punch card to scan for each usage.

Hersheypark is also rolling out the dead carpet with the RIP Dinner Buffet: Meat The Monsters at Great Scare Catering. The dreadfully delicious dinner menu includes eerie entrées, desserts to die for and more, while some of the monsters “meat” you at your table. Guests who purchase the RIP Dinner Buffet will also receive a Single-Use Fast Track accepted at any of the five Dark Nights haunted houses and a Buy One Get One Hyperdeck Coupon, valid on the new Zombie-themed virtual reality game.

Located in Hershey’s Chocolatetown, The Chocolatier will offer Spirit’s Rooftop Bar, a rooftop rendezvous available during all Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights operating days starting at 5 p.m. on Fridays and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests who dare to explore the haunted rooftop bar will find spirits both real and imagined - from fiery cocktails and octopus-inspired Bloody Marys to absinthe creations and libations that literally pop tableside. The Chocolatier patio entrance to Spirit's Rooftop Bar is only accessible inside Hersheypark on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted.

Stay tuned for more fall menu items debuting at The Chocolatier this fall. 

Enjoy a Sweet September Getaway

Whether you’re looking to seize the last bit of summer or enjoy some Halloween fun, the Official Resorts of Hersheypark make for the perfect accommodations for a September getaway. 

Guests staying Labor Day weekend can enjoy the last splashes of summer at the resorts’ outdoor pools and The Boardwalk At Hersheypark while enjoying the guest-favorite Kids Stay, Play & Eat FREE Package, available at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge through Sept. 4. Other packages perfect for an end-of-summer getaway include the 2-Day Stay & Play Package, 3-Night Sweet Stay Package and Hersheypark Summer Camping Package, available select dates through Sept. 10.

Or, opt for a spookier visit and treat your family to a Halloween weekend in The Sweetest Place On Earth with 1-Night or 2-Night Hersheypark Halloween Packages or the all-new 2-Night Dark Nights Package, featuring a 2-Day Hersheypark Halloween ticket, breakfast each day, Dark Nights tasting pass and Dark Nights Houses Fast Track Unlimited for each guest. These packages are available weekends starting Sept. 15.

Check out our fall guides to The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge and Hersheypark Camping Resort to help you plan for a sweet stay.

Celebrate National Wildlife Day at ZooAmerica  All Month Long

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is open daily this month from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 1-4 and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 5-30. The 11-acre zoo in Hershey, Pa., is the perfect place to celebrate National Wildlife Day on Sept. 4 with more than 200 animals representing species from five regions of the North American continent. 

Regular admission for guests ages 9-61 is $15 plus taxes and fees. Juniors and seniors are $13 plus taxes and fees. Children 2 and younger are free. ZooAmerica is included in the one-price admission to Hersheypark when entering the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. Please note that ZooAmerica and Hersheypark hours vary.

See a Show in Hershey

This month, we celebrate the conclusion of yet another sensational Hersheypark Stadium Summer Concert Series with two final shows, while Hershey Theatre and GIANT Center kick-start the fall season with comedy, family-friendly viewing and more. 

Sept. 1: WWE Friday Night SmackDown at GIANT Center

Sept. 1: Disney Junior Live On Tour: Costume Palooza at Hershey Theatre

Sept. 9: James “Murr” Murray at Hershey Theatre

Sept. 9: Lynyrd Skynyrd & ZZ Top at Hersheypark Stadium

Sept. 14: Kathleen Madigan at Hershey Theatre

Sept. 20: Wild Kratts LIVE! 2.0 at Hershey Theatre

Sept. 27: Red Hot Chili Peppers at Hersheypark Stadium

Sept. 28 & 30: Jo Koy at Hershey Theatre

Fall Into Relaxation at the Hershey Spas

The seasons are changing and so is your skin! Schedule an appointment at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey resort spa or MeltSpa by Hershey day spa and fall in love with pumpkin-inspired treatments available now through Nov. 30. 

The Spa At The Hotel Hershey is excited to bring back fall seasonal treatments like the Pumpkin Souffle Hydrating Body Wrap, Great Pumpkin Facial and Pumpkin Latte Manicure and Pedicure this season. All spa treatments include complimentary access to steam rooms, saunas, relaxation lounges, an indoor pool and jacuzzi, a fitness center, walking trails and sweet chocolate treats around every corner. To make an appointment, call 844-330-1797.

If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up, head to MeltSpa by Hershey in downtown Hershey and experience the scents of the season with a spa treatment from the Pumpkin Spice Collection or book the Ultimate Pumpkin Relaxation Package, which includes a Pumpkin Spice Massage, Pumpkin Whip Perfecting Facial and Pumpkin Spice Pedicure. For appointments, visit MeltSpa.com or call 855-500-2366.

Join Our Team This Fall

We are hiring across our destination! Available positions include: 

• Hersheypark Entertainment Complex
  • Utilities & Clean-Up Crew
  • The Chocolatier Restaurant, Patio + Bar roles
  • Dark Nights Attendant 
• Official Resorts 
  • Restaurants - cook, server
  • Housekeeping
  • Banquets
• Restaurants 
  • Cook
  • Kitchen Cleaner
• Spas
  • Massage Technician
  • Cosmetologist
  • Nail Technician

A comprehensive list of individual positions, job descriptions, and team member perks can be found on the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts career website. Find your next career opportunity at The Sweetest Place On Earth!

Be sure to tag us in all your sweet memories this month using the hashtag #HersheyPA!