Jersey Momma Year in Review: Top 10 Moments at Hersheypark in 2019
This article was written by one of our Sweetest Families brand ambassadors. Follow Debbie on social media and through her blog here:
2019 was a SWEET year at Hersheypark ! Were you a part of the fun?
Let’s take a look back at some of the BEST moments at Hersheypark in 2019! And don’t worry, there are even more sweet adventures planned for 2020! It was a year filled with sweet surprises, awesome announcements, delicious celebrations, and fun festivities. Here are just some of the highlights of Hersheypark’s action-packed year.
1. Breaking Ground om Hershey's Chocolatetown
Hersheypark officially broke ground on Hershey’s Chocolatetown as part of a $150 million transformational expansion. A ceremony was held at the Park entrance. Scheduled to open summer 2020, Hershey’s Chocolatetown is a new area at Hersheypark where guests can eat, play, shop and gather year-round!
2. Springtime In The Park Kicks off with Carrousel’s 100th Anniversary
Hersheypark’s Springtime In The Park returned for three fun-filled weekends beginning April 6, 2019. The 2019 spring season offered guests family-friendly rides and attractions, 13 world-class roller coasters, meet and greets with Hershey Characters, specialized sweets and treats, and daily entertainment provided by magician and comedian Chris Linn in the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre. It was also the first time guests were able to ride the iconic Carrousel in its 100th year! The Carrousel at Hersheypark turned 100 in 2019, and special merchandise and treats were created to celebrate the event! The ride was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1919, making it one of the oldest carousels in the country. The beautiful Carrousel will eventually be given a new place of honor at the front entrance of Hersheypark for summer 2020 as part of Hershey’s Chocolatetown expansion.
3. Reese’s Cupfusion Debuts
In May of 2019, Reese's Cupfusion opened, merging the world's love of chocolate and peanut butter to create a sweet full-sensory adventure with multiple ways to play for the entire family. The latest technology helped to keep track of scores in this interactive gaming ride, which featured the most targets of any ride in the world!
4. 112th Summer Season Opens with HPGO and Fast Track Unlimited
Another fabulous summer began at Hersheypark on May 3rd, welcoming guests to more than 70 rides and attractions. The heat-beating Boardwalk opened May 25th, helping to keep park-goers cool through the hottest summer days! HPGO wristbands were used to coincide with the Hersheypark app. HPGO helped visitors collect free ride stats and photos from Reese’s Cupfusion and Whitecap Racer while also integrating with the enhanced Fast Track program. The all-new Fast Track Unlimited option allowed guests to skip the regular line on any 7 of the featured attractions all day long. The summer season also featured amazing specialized eats and treats, and new drink cups for the 2019 season.
5. Candymonium Hypercoaster Officially Announced
Hersheypark finally unwrapped the details of its highly anticipated 15th coaster, Candymonium! The hypercoaster will feature a lift height of 210 feet, maximum speed of 76 mph and track length of 4,636 feet, making it the tallest, fastest, longest, and sweetest coaster in Hersheypark!
6. Cocoa’s First Birthday at Hersheypark
Adorable Atlantic Harbor Seal, Cocoa, celebrated her first birthday at Our Friends from the Sea Aquatheatre in Hersheypark on June 10, 2019! Cocoa was born to the rescued female harbor seal, Mango, and male harbor seal, Bumper. You can read more about Cocoa’s birthday and her friends from the sea.
7. New 2020 Season Pass Holder Options Announced
In anticipation of another amazing year, new Season Pass options were introduced. For the first time ever, guests could choose between three tiers - King Size, Full Size and Bite Size - and enjoy unlimited Hersheypark visits all year long. These new options give Hersheypark guests the ability to choose the Season Pass that is right for their family, with different price options and perks.
8. Culinary and Retail Additions for Hershey’s Chocolatetown Revealed
New details were revealed for the culinary and shopping experiences planned for the Hershey’s Chocolatetown region at Hersheypark. New dining and retail offerings in Hershey’s Chocolatetown include The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar and Patio; Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor; The Sweeterie; Hersheypark Supply Company; and even a Starbucks. The Chocolatier will be the largest themed restaurant in Hershey with one-of-a-kind views of Hersheypark and Candymonium, its 15th coaster. Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor will feature personal Ice Cream-ologists serving up exclusive ice cream creations, and The Sweeterie will be a new confectionery kitchen. Hersheypark Supply Company will offer the largest collection of apparel, gifts, toys and more exclusive to Hersheypark as part of a new 10,000-square-foot flagship store.
9. Hersheypark Transforms into Hersheypark In The Dark
Spooktacular fun started on Oct. 18, 2019 and continued for three weekends through November 3, 2019. During Hersheypark In The Dark, children 12 and under were given a treat bag and were invited to trick-or-treat at 13 candy stops set up throughout Treatville trick-or-treat trail in Hersheypark, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park and next door at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Hersheypark In The Dark offered live entertainment, specialized treats and Fall eats, all while enjoying over 50 rides and attractions throughout the park. There were also “lights out” rides and Laff Trakk in the dark!
10. Santa’s Reindeer Arrive for Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Hersheypark closes out 2019 with a joyous holiday celebration, Christmas Candylane! More than four million colored lights sparkle during the most festive seasonal event of the year. The NOEL light show choreographed to music lights up the evenings. Guests are treated to “The Littlest Tree” holiday show inside the heated Chevrolet Music Box Theatre and an indoor, heated photo opportunity with Hershey Characters. Kids meet Santa in the Candy Cottage and visit with all nine of his live reindeer (including Rudolph!) at Christmas Candylane. Family-friendly rides and attractions are open throughout the event, as well as an ice skating rink. Special treats and eats, signature hot chocolates, souvenir mugs, and an included visit to ZooAmerica are just some of the memories of Christmas Candylane. Hershey Sweet Lights, the drive-through holiday spectacular featuring two miles of almost 600 illuminated displays, is the perfect way to close out the season.
It’s easy to see that 2019 was an unforgettable year at Hersheypark, and 2020 promises to be even more exciting, with the opening of Hershey’s Chocolatetown and the debut of Candymonium. See you in the new year!