October in Hershey
There are so many events in Hershey during October, it’s hard to keep track of them all! We’ve done some of the research for you, so you can make the most of the next three weeks:
Hersheypark In The Dark, Hershey’s Trick or Treat Adventure and ZooAmerica’s Creatures Of The Night begin their weekend runs on October 14 and continue weekends through October 16, October 21-23 and October 28-30. The park is transformed by colorful fall decorations, and special seasonal rates make it easier to take the whole family. Hershey’s Trick or Treat Adventure begins at Hershey’s Chocolate World and continues to a special area inside Hersheypark with a journey of decorated doors and friendly folks offering Hershey’s candy. Live music from spooky bands enhance the experience, and the S’mores treats and hot cider are there to take away the chill!
Included in your admission to Hersheypark In The Dark is ZooAmerica’s Creatures Of Ihe Night. Watch the wolves howl at the moon, see the bears devour pumpkins, and hang out with the bats at their favorite hour! Bring a flashlight and explore ZooAmerica to get a rare glimpse into the nighttime habits of your favorite animals.
October 15 brings the 2nd annual Choctoberfest on ChocolateTown Square in downtown Hershey from noon–6:00 p.m. This family-friendly fall festival features great live music (four performers, including Rhett Miller of Old 97s at 4:30 p.m.), local craft beer, chocolate and delicious food from downtown restaurants, and offers an array of family and children’s activities. Choctoberfest is free and open to the public, with food and beverages available for purchase.
Also on October 15, (and just a mile or two out of town), Indian Echo Caverns hosts its 5th annual Autumn Festival & Old Fashion Days, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., with wagon rides, pumpkin patches, face painting, glitter tattoos, geode cracking, a bouncy house, charity bake sale, local artist and craft vendors, and food.
Fall also means fitness in Hershey, as runners arrive Sunday, October 16 for the sold-out Hershey Half Marathon. After the finish line (complete with cool collector medal), relaxation is close at hand. Treat yourself to a Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub, a Great Pumpkin Facial or a Pumpkin Latte Manicure & Pedicure at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey. Stay and dine at any one of the fine restaurants at the Hotel Hershey or the Hershey Lodge, all featuring special fall menu items.
Also on October 16 from 4 to 6 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church (433 E. Main St. Hummelstown) will hold its second annual Trunk or Treat in the church parking lot. Please bring an item for the Hummelstown Food Bank. There is no admission fee, but the church asks for a donation to offset event costs.
Have you ever tried a ride on the Hershey Trolley Works? It’s a completely different experience on the Trick or Treat Trolley, a theatrical sightseeing show where two actors bring the story of Hershey to life on the trolley. However, this show focuses more closely on the joy of being a kid (don’t we all want to dress up and go trick or treating?), and the love Mr. and Mrs. Hershey had for children that led them to start Milton Hershey School, the focal point of their amazing legacy. The Trick or Treat Trolley runs in the evenings during Hersheypark In The Dark weekends in October; tickets are available in Hershey’s Chocolate World.
Did you know that Hersheypark Camping Resort has events (for campground guests only) during weekends of Hersheypark In The Dark as well? The campground hosts Halloween contests, including a coloring contest, a Decorate-Your-Campsite contest and a pumpkin carving contest, as well as weekend Halloween crafts, costume contests, Halloween Candy Scrabble, a noon Trick or Treat Adventure on Saturdays and music on Friday evenings.
If you’re in Hershey during the week and need a Halloween diversion, the annual Hershey Halloween Parade takes place on October 19. This parade is a charmer, with homemade floats and unique costumes, as well as the traditional candy tossing to parade watchers. It’s Americana at its best! Come downtown a little early and join First United Methodist Church (64 W. Chocolate Ave in Hershey) for Trunk or Treat from 5-7 p.m., before the parade.
On October 21 from 6 to 8:30 p.m, Hershey Gardens begins two weekends of its popular Pumpkin Glow (October 21, 22, 28 and 29), where guests meander along a mile-long path to see 150+ lighted, carved pumpkins and gourds. Chefs will be on hand to demonstrate pumpkin carving techniques, and this year a new program featuring live insects debuts. The live creature exhibit spotlights Goliath tarantulas, giant scorpions, a giant centipede, a jack-o-lantern filled with hissing cockroaches and large friendly caterpillars that visitors can hold. The creature exhibit will be on display in the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory during Pumpkin Glow. General admission is $12.50 for visitors ages 13-61, $11.50 for seniors (ages 62 and up), and $9.00 for juniors (ages 3-12); children ages 2 and under are free. Candy distributed at Pumpkin Glow is generously donated by The Hershey Company.
On October 22, Camp Catherine (named after Mrs. Hershey) hosts its first Fall Festival, which will include farm activities, pumpkins, games, vendors, food and more.
Also on Saturday, October 22, the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum will host its popular Trunk or Treat from noon to 3 p.m. Visitors ages 12 and under may participate with museum admission; after creating their own unique “trunk or treat” bags, kids will hunt for a number of trunk or treat spots within the museum, with treats provided by The Hershey Company
In the evening of October 22, the Hershey Bears face Bridgeport in the team's home opener at the GIANT Center. The first game against local rival, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, will be hosted by the Bears on Sunday, October 23 at the GIANT Center.
If hockey’s not your thing, head to a Shank Park Halloween at one of Derry Township’s largest parks. Shank Park Halloween takes place from 4:30-9:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 22, and features pumpkin decorating, inflatable games, face painting, a candy hunt, S’mores by the campfire, and a Halloween Drive-In Movie. Concessions will be available for purchase, and the event is free (although there is a suggested donation of $5.00 per vehicle).
On Thursday, October 27, keep your eye out for little princesses and Pokémon characters on the sidewalks of Hershey as the town’s Trick or Treat takes place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Stop by Fishburn United Methodist Church (1215 Fishburn Rd in Hershey) for Trunk or Treat during the same hours—the church offers easy trick or treating with crafts for the kids, free hot dogs, chips and water.
The Hershey Story Museum sponsors Ghosts & Goodies on October 29 and October 30 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Kids can come in and show off their Halloween costumes at The Hershey Story Museum, and create some “ghostly” treats using Hershey’s candy! Ghosts & Goodies is free for kids 12 and younger.
On October 29, catch The Goonies Classic Film at 7:00 p.m. and/or The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 11:59 p.m. at the Hershey Theatre. Tickets are $8.00 per person and are available at the theatre box office or Ticketmaster.
By the time October 31 rolls around, you be ready to relax with your own special Halloween traditions at home!
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