The Hershey Insider

Christmas in Hershey

Although it may seem a little early to see Christmas lights and decorations, Hershey is beginning to show its holiday colors this week.

Festive displays are in place at Hersheypark and ZooAmerica, the Kissing Tower tree is up and Sweet Lights is lighting up the night (and the day, occasionally) as every bulb in this multi-million-light display is checked. Yes, it's almost time for Christmas in Hershey—in fact, the season officially begins here this Friday!

Hersheypark's Christmas Candylane opens on Friday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. Many rides will be operating (no coasters and no water rides, obviously) and Santa will be there with his reindeer. New this year—N.O.E.L., a light show in Comet Hollow featuring more than 125,000 dancing lights synchronized to Christmas music. Christmas Candylane hours are typically limited to weekends until mid-December; be sure to check the schedule before you make plans.

Sweet Lights also makes its debut this Friday. It's become a holiday tradition for our family, worth at least one $20-per-car visit. And don't be fooled—the lights you can see from the road are only a small part of the Sweet Lights experience, which winds up and down the forested hill behind the Hotel Hershey as well.

The National Christmas Tree Walk at Hershey Gardens opens this Friday as well. Now in its third year, this display of Christmas trees decorated with ornaments of the 50 states is growing in popularity. It's open from 10-4 each day from November 13 through December 27.

Holiday decorations at Hershey's Chocolate World this year include a new attraction: a 13-foot-tall Candy Chalet, slated to open on November 20.

For more indoor holiday entertainment, check out "Christmas in Chocolate Town," a dinner show at the Hershey Lodge with performances running from November 20 through December 28. The GIANT Center has a full schedule of Hershey Bears games and public skating, as well as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The Hershey Theatre has several holiday events and concerts (Wynonna Judd, Chris Botti) on tap as well.

There are more holiday offerings around town, many of which are included on the Christmas in Hershey weekly schedule of events.

There's Still Time...

You still have a couple days to carve your Hershey's (or Reese's) Halloween Jack-O-Lantern, and The Hershey Company has made it easier by offering some nice pumpkin stencils on its site!

New Finds at Chocolate World

If you're looking for interesting new items at Hershey's Chocolate World, it's always a good idea to visit during the first weeks of October. It's Auto Show Time—the AACA Fall Meet draws upwards of 250,000 to our small town—and Chocolate World is always stocked with special items and holiday items for the AACA crowd.

So I wasn't too surprised to see Candy Cane Kisses and Mint Truffle Kisses on the shelves when I walked in to Chocolate World this week. But I also noticed a few other happy finds available for purchase and promptly scooped them up.

The new White Chocolate Meltaway Bliss and the new Hershey's Pieces line were there, a few weeks ahead of their scheduled release date. I've linked to Cybele's excellent reviews of both on Candy Blog for those who want all the juicy details, but I have to say that the new member of the Bliss family is my new favorite—it's positively addictive! And Penn State fans will find the blue-and-white York Pieces make a great decorative touch for tailgating.

I also spotted bags of Cookies & Cream Miniatures that I hadn't noticed before, including the popular white confection version as well as a milk chocolate Cookies & Cream Miniature.

There should be a few more holiday offerings from Hershey this year, including Kisses in "Naughty" (black foil) or "Nice" (silver foil) packaging. I am still holding out hope for the Limited Edition Mint Kisses (a solid chocolate extruded Kiss with mint flavoring, as opposed to the Mint Truffle moulded variety) to return, as well as the flavorful Creme de Menthe Bliss that debuted as a limited edition item last year.

One Last Weekend at the Butterfly House

The Butterfly House at Hershey Gardens will close for the season after this weekend. It's well worth a visit!

The Gardens are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. this weekend.

Admission prices to the Gardens (includes Butterfly House admission):

Regular .............. $10.00
Seniors (62+) ...... $9.00
Junior (3-12) ....... $6.00
Children under 3 and members are FREE

Say Goodbye to Summer at Hersheypark

Hersheypark's last public day of the summer season is coming up this Saturday, September 26. Get out and enjoy one last carefree day before the leaves change.

Of course, we still have Hersheypark in the Dark to look forward to. The Halloween-themed event runs three weekends this year: October 16-18, October 23-25 and October 20-November 1. One of our favorite Hersheypark activities is trick-or-treating in the park's "Treatville," where all kids 12 and under can go door-to-door for Hershey goodies.

One admission fee gets you in, and there are convenient one-, two- and three-day admission plans.

More Hershey Cadbury Speculation

The rumors about Hershey entering into some sort of partnership with Cadbury (or acquiring Cadbury, or being acquired by Cadbury) have reached a fever pitch in the past few weeks and Reuters had some interesting information on the subject via the WSJ today.

Although the current speculation comes on the heels of Kraft's bid for Cadbury, the rumors concerning Hershey and Cadbury have been flitting about for years. We'll see what comes of the latest moves...and keep our ears turned in the direction of The Hershey Trust...

Big Band Extravaganza | Hershey Theatre

The Hershey Symphony Orchestra's Big Band will launch the symphony's new season with a performance at the Hershey Theatre on Friday evening, September 18.

It's a great evening out for the whole family! Prices are $18 for Adults, $15 for Seniors (55+) and $8 for Students. Children 12 and younger will be admitted for free.

For more information about the Hershey Symphony, please contact the Symphony box office at 717-533-8449 or visit the Symphony's website.

Restaurant Week in Hershey

If you've been looking for an excuse to try one of the new Hershey Entertainment & Resorts eateries in town, you'll find just the deal to justify a meal out this coming week! It's Restaurant Week in Hershey, and it's your chance to sample some excellent menus from September 13-17.

The following restaurants will be participating:

• The Bears' Den
  
• Harvest
  
• Circular Dining Room
  
• Hershey Grill
  
• Devon Seafood Grill
  
• Highlands Grill
  
• The Forebay
  
• Hogan Grill
• The Fountain Café
  
• Houlihan's

There are special menus at each participating restaurant. For example, here's the Restaurant Week Menu from Harvest, one of our favorites:

Choice of Starter

Frisée lettuce and crisp apple salad
Sliced red onion, honey roasted pecans, blue cheese dressing

She Crab Soup

Braised pork cheek, thyme scented spoon bread
Wilted chard, Jack Daniel’s sauce

Choice of Entrée

Sauté rainbow trout
Cabbage, potato, and wild mushroom medley, whole grain mustard sauce

Herb rubbed roasted half chicken
Caramelized root vegetables, thyme scented natural jus

Choice of Dessert

Pie of the day

Chef’s selection of fruit pie, served with vanilla ice cream

Warm Hershey’s Chocolate fudge brownie Sundae

Housemade Yuengling Lager Ice Cream
Caramel sauce with toasted pecans

At Harvest, $30 per person includes your choice of one starter, one entrée and one dessert—but each participating restaurant has a different menu and some offer two starters, two entrées and two desserts for $30.

Hershey Gardens for Free!

I just photographed a wedding at the Hershey Gardens yesterday, and I have to say the Gardens are as lush and gorgeous as I've ever seen them. The roses are in bloom, the annuals are blooming and the perennial grasses are spectacular!

So it's a perfect time to visit—and this Sunday, you can take your family to the Gardens free of charge, as the 14th annual Hershey Community Gardenfest at Hershey Gardens takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to the amazing scenery, you'll enjoy performances by Hershey Area Playhouse, Hershey Gardens Puppet Patch Players and Central Pennsylvania Suzuki Association.

Several non-profit organizations will have exhibits, including the Hershey Horticulture Society, Susquehanna Valley Chapter of The Rhododendron Society, Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society, Hershey Christian School, The Garden Club of Harrisburg, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA and Dauphin County Master Gardeners.

And that's not all! From 1 to 3 p.m. local artisan Bruce Johnson will sign limited edition Hershey Gardens Children’s Garden posters as well as copies of the book “It's A Fine Line.”

The forecast for Sunday looks good, but the event will take place rain or shine!

Found at Chocolate World | Hershey's Popcorn!

We found chocolate-drizzled popcorn in Hershey's and Heath varieties tucked on an obscure shelf at Hershey's Chocolate World last week.

The popcorn is apparently made under license by Signature Brands, an Ocala company. The Heath variety tastes like plain caramel corn to me, fresh, but simply sweet with not much of a butter or toffee flavor. The Hershey's Chocolate-Drizzled Popcorn was better (and no tropical oils on the ingredients list!), although it would be more accurate to label it "chocolate-drizzled caramel corn" rather than "chocolate-drizzled popcorn."

Whatever you call it, the popcorn packages are pricy, at $6.95 for 6 oz. — perhaps not a regular family snack, but a lovely gift!