Things to Do Winter 2026 in Hershey, PA
Top Picks of Things to Do in The Sweetest Place On Earth This Winter
After Jan. 4, Hersheypark amusement park may be closed for the season, but the Central Pennsylvania town built on chocolate is still buzzing with family-friendly activities and winter events from January through March. As we mark the first day of winter, take a look at our top picks of things to do during the wintertime 2025-2026 in Hershey, Pa.
Hershey Resorts Winter Getaway
There is so much to do in Hershey this winter, you'll want to stay overnight to truly experience it all. From a cozy cabin or RV at Hersheypark Camping Resort to deluxe accommodations at Hershey Lodge (featuring our 30,000 square foot indoor pool complex, Hershey's Water Works) and The Hotel Hershey, The Official Resorts of Hersheypark make for a sweet winter getaway.
For a limited time, guests can save with the below winter offers, available select dates throughout the season:
- Book One Night, Get One 50% Off at The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge and Hersheypark Camping Resort
- Book Two Nights, Get One Free at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge
All resort guests also receive FREE Resort Benefits, including free or discounted admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story Museum, preferred pricing to ZooAmerica, on-site recreation and activities and more.
Discovery Weekends at ZooAmerica
ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this winter. Families can bundle up and walk around the 11-acre Zoo while learning about dozens of animals native to our continent, like gray wolves, Canada lynx and river otters. Despite the colder temperatures, winter is often the best time of year to visit ZooAmerica, as the crowds typically are lighter and the animals are more active.
The Zoo is also hosting Discovery Weekends in January, where kids ages 8 and under can visit for free on Saturdays and Sundays with the purchase of a regular or senior admission ticket at the door. Each Discovery Weekend spotlights a specific animal and features a variety of enrichment activities to learn more about your favorite animals. Current ZooAmerica Pass Holders can enjoy unlimited year-round visits to the Zoo, and 2026 Hersheypark Season Pass Holders get into the Zoo for free, too.
Winter Shows and Concerts in Hershey
There are plenty of opportunities to catch some live entertainment in Hershey this winter. The following acts are coming to the soon-to-reopen historic Hershey Theatre and the 10,500-seat GIANT Center arena through March.
GIANT Center:
- Dancing with the Stars: Live! on Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
- The Harlem Globetrotters: 100 Year Tour on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.
- Elevation Worship & Steven Furtick: 2026 Tour on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.
- Journey: Final Frontier Tour on Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
- Three Days Grace: Alienation Tour on March 1 at 7 p.m.
- 2026 PIAA Wrestling Championships on March 5-7 at various times
- Brit Floyd: The Moon, The Wall and Beyond on March 13 at 8 p.m.
- Disney On Ice Presents: Frozen & Encanto on March 26-29 at various times
Hershey Theatre:
- Beyond the Footlights: Hershey Theatre Backstage Pass on February 26 at various times
- Neil deGrasse Tyson: Cosmic Collisions on March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
- Jim Jefferies: Son of a Carpenter on March 13 at 7 p.m.
- The Best Of Steve Martin & Martin Short on March 14 at various times
- Hershey Symphony Presents: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel in Concert on March 21 at various times
- TINA - The Tina Turner Musical on March 24-29 at various times
Hershey Bears Hockey Games at GIANT Center
Hockey fans can cheer for the hometown Hershey Bears AHL team. The Bears will play 17 games at GIANT Center between now and the end of March.
Key promotional nights include the GIANT Teddy Bear Toss Night on Jan. 4 and Hersheypark Pass Nights on Jan. 20 and Mar. 22. All fans attending the Hersheypark Pass Nights will receive a free 2026 Hersheypark ticket, valid for one-day admission through June 30, 2026! Passes will be distributed to all fans upon entry to the game, valid for one pass per game ticket.
Tuesday Trivia Nights & Hershey Bears Watch Parties at The Bears' Den
Calling all trivia fans! Gather your friends and join us at The Bears' Den, located inside Hershey Lodge, every Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. for a game of trivia, featuring general trivia questions. Diners can enjoy delicious appetizers and drinks while playing fun trivia games for a chance to win a prize.
Get your roar ready! We’ll be cheering on our very own Hershey Bears at The Bears’ Den during our watch parties! Enjoy a delicious meal with fellow fans in Bear Nation on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 4 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 16, at 3 p.m. No reservations required.
Live Entertainment at Iberian Lounge
The Iberian Lounge at The Hotel Hershey will feature live entertainment every Saturday from 8 to 11 p.m. throughout January. Find a seat, grab a cocktail or mocktail, and enjoy the sounds of new musical guests each week. Entertainment is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Entertainment Schedule:
- Jan. 3: John Kelly
- Jan. 10: Jeff Seyfried
- Jan. 17: Jimmy D
- Jan. 24: Mockingbird Duo
- Jan. 31: Noel Gevers
Dine With Coco The Bear at The Chocolatier
Kids can enjoy a free kid's dessert with the purchase of a kid's entrée at The Chocolatier on Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. during the Hershey Bears hockey season. Plus, all diners can hang out with Coco, The Official Mascot of the Hershey Bears!
Don’t miss out on an all-new special menu celebrating the Hershey Bears. This special menu is served every Bears home game day. Items include a specialty milkshake, themed cocktails and entrees which include the return of the fan-favorite Chocolate BBQ Wings. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Winter Spa Treatments
What better way to beat the winter blues than with a chocolate spa day? MeltSpa by Hershey day spa and The Spa At The Hotel Hershey resort spa (that will be celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout 2026) offer signature chocolate treatments and seasonal collections to warm up and unwind on a cold winter day. Guests can choose from various services, including massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, manicures and pedicures, hair services and much more.
This winter, guests can experience treatments from the Cranberry Spice Collection at Meltspa by Hershey or Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Mocha treatments at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey through Feb. 28.
To make an appointment at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey, call 844-330-1797. For MeltSpa by Hershey appointments, call 855-500-2366 or go online.
Special Meet & Greets at Hershey's Chocolate World
Hershey's Chocolate World is open daily from January through March; hours vary by day. Guests can unwrap their chocolate adventure by being a kid in a candy store, sipping a milkshake, becoming a chocolatier, taking a delicious chocolate tour ride and so much more.
There are several winter events at Hershey's Chocolate World to add to the calendar, including special Meet & Greets with Snoopy and the Hershey's Characters. Check the Chocolate World website for dates and times.
Interactive Events at Hershey Gardens
Hershey Gardens is open daily this winter except Jan. 5-9 for maintenance. Visitors can take a stroll through the 23-acre walk-through botanical display garden, featuring an indoor tropical Butterfly Atrium with 600 butterflies from around the world. The atrium is one of only 25 year-round indoor tropical butterfly atriums in the U.S.
NEW! Winter Wednesdays Family Series: Winter Animal Adaptations
Every Wednesday in January from 10 a.m. to noon, meet new “friends” at the Zoology Zone Interactive Cart and engage in family activities that explore how animals and plants survive winter. You'll learn how to compare and contrast native species with Zoology Zone species, discuss winter survival, and explore when seeds are dormant over winter. Activity is located in the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory and the Education Center.
Dried Floral Arrangement Class
On Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, create your own dried floral arrangement to bring beauty to your home in the winter months. You'll use an assortment of dried specimens, such as seed pods, florals, grasses and greens, to learn about color, form and texture when creating an arrangement. Class held in the Education Center in The Children’s Garden. Registration is required.
Chocolate Lab Classes at The Hershey Story
Those looking for a fun indoor activity to beat the winter blues can head to The Hershey Story Museum to learn all about the life and legacy of Milton S. Hershey, the town he created and the lives he touched. Additional paid experiences are also available, including the Chocolate Lab, where guests can learn about the chocolate-making process from "bean to bar" and create their own chocolate treat. Chocolate Lab Classes are offered daily on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets can be purchased at The Hershey Story admissions desk on the day of the visit.
Public Ice Skating at Hersheypark Arena
Ice skating is a staple on many people's winter bucket lists. Hersheypark Arena is open for public ice skating on select dates in December and January. Children 3 and under are admitted free, with ticket prices ranging from $6 to $9 for ages 4 and older.
We hope to see you in The Sweetest Place On Earth this winter!