Inside Hershey

Top Ten Gifts from Hershey

 

One thing about being in Hershey: Whether you live here or you're just visiting, you can always find unique gifts! Here are a few of our favorites (and most can be ordered online!)

 

Life Lion Collectible Helicopter

From our friends at Penn State Milton S. Hershey  Medical Center, a 1:48 scale die-cast replica of the Life Lion helicopter.

 

The World's Largest Hershey Bar

Not something you can find at the grocery store and sure to impress the recipient! While you're at the Hershey online shop, pick up a box of Golden Almond Bars (our favorite) or the new Hershey's Gold Bar to try.

 

Hershey's Kisses Sheets and Pillowcases from The Hershey Lodge

Sweet sheets! These Kiss-filled poly-cotton sheets and pillowcases are easy to wash and they last (we have a set, so we know!) Not available online, but visit the Lodge gift shop to get a set for yourself or your favorite people. The shops at the Hershey Lodge and the Hotel Hershey also have unique gifts your kids will treasure!

 

 

Hershey Country Club Embroidered Apparel

 

How about a cashmere golf sweater from your favorite country club?

 

Avenues of Hershey Tee from Stay Apparel

The perfect gift for your Hershey fan from the new company in town, Stay Apparel. All items are U.S.-made and crafted with care.

 

Hershey Food Bank Donation

The number of hungry and food-insecure families continues to grow, even in the Hershey area. Help those people with a donation of time,  money or food to the Hershey Food Bank.

 

Be Kind Hoodie 

Support Hershey's We Matter Coalition by purchasing a "Be Kind" hoodie. The local group is dedicated to suicide prevention and reducing the stigma associated with mental health needs.

 

Melt Spa Gift Certificate

Why not stop by Hershey's newest day spa and pick up a gift card? 

 

A Gift from The Garden Shop at the Hershey Gardens or A Gift from The Museum Shop at the Hershey Story Museum

You don't have to be a member to shop at the unique gift shops at the Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story museum, and they each feature carefully selected items in every price range. A membership makes a great gift, too!

 

A Photo of your Favorite Corner of Hershey from Frances Civello Photography

Choose your favorite photo and have it shipped directly from the professional lab to you. Frames and mattes are also available—share great memories of our sweet town (with no stress!)

 

Finally, we know there are dozens of unique Hershey gifts we HAVEN'T mentioned here. Gift cards to locally owned businesses are another go-to gift item for us each year. Hershey's Chocolate World always carries merchandise that appeals to even the toughest recipient. Is there anyone who wouldn't appreciate a Hershey Entertainment gift card (good for Hersheypark, HE&R hotels, HE&R restaurants, Hershey Bears, the Chocolate spa, Melt Spa, the Cocoa Beanery and more)? And Art on Derry is always a treasure trove of high-quality art by local artists for a truly unique gift.

What are YOUR favorite Hershey gifts to give? 

 

October in Hershey, 2017 Edition

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 four weeks:

For the first week of October, Hershey will be swarmed by antique vehicles of every variety as the Antique Auto Club of America's Eastern Region Fall Meet comes to town. The meet takes place from October 4 to 7, and consists of more than 9,000 flea market spaces, 1,000 car corral spaces, and approximately 1,500 show cars. Each year the show attracts visitors from all over the United States and many countries throughout the world. 

After the Fall Meet traffic leaves town, it's time to celebrate autumn and Halloween with fun events for the young and young at heart!

 

Hersheypark in the Dark, Hershey’s Trick or Treat Adventure and ZooAmerica’s Creatures Of The Night begin their weekend runs on Friday, October 13 and continue weekends through October 15, October 20-22 and October 27-29. 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.

 

On Saturdays in October (Oct. 14, 21 and 28) visit the Hershey Story Museum to create "Monster Mischief." On those days from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., kids who visit the Museum Experience at The Hershey Story can create their very own monster pop using a Hershey bar, decorative icing and edible candy eyes. They’ll also receive a vintage Hershey’s mask to assemble. For a fun Halloween photo opportunity, children are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite costume and pose in front of a vintage Hershey’s advertising backdrop. Included in Museum Experience admission.

 

October 14 also brings the 3rd annual Choctoberfest on ChocolateTown Square in downtown Hershey from noon–6:00 p.m. This family-friendly fall festival features great live music, 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.

 

This year for the first time, the annual Hershey Partnership Soup Cook-Off will be held the same day as Choctoberfest. On October 24 from 11:00 a.m. –2:00 p.m., sample dozens of soups concocted by local begs and amateur soup aficionados This event takes place at the Hershey Volunteer Fire Company, which receives a portion of the event profits. Admission is available at the door: adults are $12, children ages 10 and under, $5.

 

Also on October 14, and just a mile or two out of town), Indian Echo Caverns hosts its 6th 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.

 

On Saturday evening, October 14, the Hershey Bears face Belleville in the team's home opener at the GIANT Center. The first game against the local rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms will be hosted by the Bears on Sunday, October 15 at the GIANT Center.

 

Fall also means fitness in Hershey, as runners arrive Sunday, October 15 for the sold-out Hershey Half Marathon. After the finish line (complete with cool collector medal), relaxation is close at hand. Treat yourself to Pumpkin, Spice and Everything Nice with 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 15 from 4 to 6 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church (433 E. Main St. Hummelstown) will hold its third annual Trunk-n-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 70th Annual  Hershey Halloween Parade takes place on October 17. 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 early and join First United Methodist Church (64 W. Chocolate Ave in Hershey) for Trunk or Treat from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. before the parade.

 

 

On October 20 from 6 to 8:30 p.m, Hershey Gardens begins two weekends of its popular Pumpkin Glow (October 20 and 21, and October 27 and 28), where guests meander along a mile-long path to see 150+ lighted, carved pumpkins and gourds. New this year: ten unique themed pumpkin areas, including Hero Headquarters, Creative Cartoons, Haunted Happenings, Halloween Zoo, Woodland Creatures, A Pirate's Life, Wicked Fun, Plants & Pollinators and Once Upon a Time.  

 

Also at Pumpkin Glow, chefs will be on hand to demonstrate pumpkin carving techniques. Don't miss the live creature exhibit spotlighting 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. (The Butterfly Atrium will be closed during the event) 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.

 

Also on Saturday, October 21, 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

 

After the AACA event, bring your ghouls and goblins to a Shank Park Halloween at one of Derry Township’s largest parks. Shank Park Halloween takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 21, and features pumpkin decorating, inflatable games, face painting, a candy hunt, S’mores by the campfire, and a Drive-In Movie screening of Captain Underpants. Concessions will be available for purchase, and the event is free (although there is a suggested donation of $5.00 per vehicle).

 

Also on Saturday, October 21, catch the classic Halloween favorite Hocus Pocus 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.

 

On Sunday, October 22, stop by Fishburn United Methodist Church (1215 Fishburn Rd in Hershey) for Trunk or Treat from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.—the church offers easy trick or treating with crafts for the kids, free hot dogs, chips and water.

 

On Thursday, October 26, 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. 

 

By the time October 31 rolls around, you be ready to relax with your own special Halloween traditions at home!

 

 

Making the Most of Autumn in Hershey

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!

July 4th in Hershey

We're getting ready to celebrate Independence Day with a long weekend filled with activities in Hershey! Here are a few family-friendly activities you may want to check out:

 

Hersheypark

July 2-4

Hersheypark is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with the park's annual fireworks show set for 10:15 p.m. on July 4 (the fireworks can be seen from within the park, with best views from Midway America). 

In addition, visitors are invited to celebrate with a Star-Spangled Picnic all three days (July 2, 3 and 4) at the Pioneer Frontier Catering Pavilion inside Hersheypark. Traditional picnic fare will be served, including hamburgers, hot dogs pulled pork BBQ, potato salad, chips, ice cream and more. A cash bar will also be available for the over-21 crowd.Tickets may be purchased online or at Hospitality Services the day of the event.

In addition, Hersheypark will feature those little extras you'd expect from a world-class amusement park on a special holiday! For a complete list, go to the Hersheypark Fourth of July page.

 

Hersheypark Stadium

July 2

On the heels of wrapping up their hugely successful “Rock Out With Your Socks Out Tour,” 5 Seconds of Summer will bring their “Sounds Live Feels Live” tour to Hershey on Saturday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. Special guests for the evening are One OK Rock and Hey Violet.

 

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

July 4

7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

Join your friends, neighbors and the Hershey Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the Fourth of July with the 11th annual free concert and fireworks on the lawn of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center on Monday evening.

The orchestra’s performance— “An American Salute”—begins at 7:30 p.m., and Hersheypark fireworks can be seen at 10 p.m. Complimentary water and ice cream will be provided by the Medical Center. Food and drink for purchase will be available from several food trucks in attendance.

Parking is free and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit the orchestra.

“It is a holiday tradition for the community to celebrate Independence Day with our concert on the lawn of the Medical Center, it’s a great event for everyone” said Hershey Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Paul Metzger.

The first half of the concert will feature a mixed selection of music including John Williams movie themes from Superman and E.T., music from Downton Abbey, a Mamma Mia medley and other POP and Rock classics featuring Hershey Symphony vocalists. For the second half of the concert, the Orchestra will present “A Salute to America” with favorite patriotic selections and a tribute to the men and women that keep America safe.

The concert is sponsored by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey Lodge, Sutliff Chevrolet and Hershey Symphony Orchestra.

  

AACA Museum

July 4

5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with fireworks at 10:15 p.m.

On Independence Day enjoy a clear view of the fireworks from the grounds of the AACA Museum. The museum will be open late, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the public is invited to tour the Museum during this time for just $7.00 per person! Don’t forget blankets and chairs to enjoy tailgating on the grass while you await the Hersheypark fireworks display (fireworks are weather permitting). There will be an ice cream and beverage vendor available with snacks—or bring your own. No alcoholic beverages will be permitted. The AACA Museum is perched up on the hill overlooking the town of Hershey, which makes this the perfect place to stay and watch the fireworks show scheduled for @ 10:15 p.m.

 

Hershey's Water Works: Fun for the Entire Family!

On Thursday, May 26, the Hershey Lodge will officially open Hershey's Water Works, its all-new 30,000 sq ft complex, which includes an indoor waterpark, arcade, activity room and fitness center. A new dining location, Cocoa Cabana, is adjacent to the aquatic center and includes a full bar and wait service. With features like a zero-entry pool and splash pad for the littlest guests, a fun-filled arcade and Hershey's-themed water activities for teens as well as an oversized whirlpool for adults, this addition will be fun for every member of the family!

The 20,000-square foot Aquatic Center features:

• Two Pools with a minimum depth of 0.0 feet and a maximum depth of 5 feet;
• Two Twizzlers Twists Slides, each 24' high and 202' long;
• The Reese's Water Walk;
• A Water Play Structure; 
• And an Outdoor Splash Pad with Lounge Chair Seating.

 

 

Cocoa Cabana is located adjacent to the pool area and includes window service and wait service with comfortable seating. Adult beverages are available to those 21- and older, and plenty of beauty-keen snacks and entrees add to the fun.

 

 

The Arcade features a themed air hockey table, Skeeball and several interactive arcade games. No coins or tokens to worry about here—the arcade features swipe cards that can be easily reloaded for extra fun. A large window allows parents to monitor kids in the arcade and the pool area from the poolside seating/dining area.

 

The new Activity Room is a wonderful mix of board games, LEGOs and tabletop activities, and features colorful themed tables and soft benches.

 

 

The Fitness Room is spacious and features up-to-date equipment from treadmills and bikes to weight equipment and exercise balls.

 

Tying the new complex together are bright, sophisticated graphics and architectural details that make sure guests don't forget they're in the Sweetest Place on Earth!

Hershey's Water Works will be open to overnight guests of the Hershey Lodge only.

Planning Your Visit to Hershey

Most summertime visitors to Hershey have one destination in mind: Hersheypark. But there's so much more to Hershey than the amusement park! Here are some tips for making the most of your visit to our community, with a few tips for accommodations, dining and other attractions. To get the latest news and event information about Hershey, follow us on Facebook.

Accommodations
In addition to operating Hersheypark, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts runs the luxurious Hotel Hershey and the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

If you want to be pampered on vacation, the Hotel Hershey is the obvious choice. With its acclaimed Chocolate Spa and a recent $75 million dollar expansion (featuring new cottage-style accommodations and a brand-new outdoor pool), the hotel is a destination itself. Room rates during the summer start at $400, but there are often special packages offered and the room rate includes a number of perks, including complimentary admission to the Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story museum, local shuttle service, access to golf and kids’ activities and more.

The Hershey Lodge offers family rooms starting at $300 in summer, with many of the same perks as the Hotel Hershey, in a slightly less luxurious setting. Hershey bar characters roam the lobby and family-friendly activities abound.

There are plenty of alternative accommodations in the Hershey area, including many newer suite hotels. We like the Spring Hill Suites by Marriott, just a few miles north of Hersheypark on Route 39. Within a half-mile, you’ll also find a Quality Inn & Suites and a Country Inn & Suites. A Hampton Inn & Suites is located on East Chocolate Avenue, and another suite hotel is planned for the downtown.

If you’re not planning to bring the kids, there are some impressive bed & breakfast accommodations in the surrounding area as well. The Annville Inn and The Inn at Westwynd Farm come highly recommended.

Hersheypark Tickets and the Free Preview Evening

If you plan on spending more than two days at Hersheypark, consider a season pass. It will pay for itself —not only does it cover your admission to the park, it also gives you free parking, a 15% discount off food and merchandise in the park and a coupon book with excellent deals (10% off purchases at Hershey’s Chocolate World, for example). If your time is more limited and you've purchased one-day tickets, make sure you get to Hersheypark for the Free Preview Evening : the evening before your full day at the park, you can get in a couple hours before closing for free, and it's well worth the trip. Crowds are lighter, and you have the chance to get a feel for the layout of the park.

 
Making the Most of Your Day at Hersheypark

If you plan to try the waterpark attractions in the new Boardwalk theme area, a good advice is to wear your swimwear under your clothes and be at the main gate right at opening time (10 a.m.) Then get to the Boardwalk (on the far end of the park, in the shadow of the Ferris Wheel) as fast as you can and send one person to get a big locker there—they go quickly, and they're essential if you want to stow your swimming suits and enjoy the rest of the park after the Boardwalk. Another person should go to the wave pool area and claim lounge chairs for the family—lounge chairs are very hard to come by after 10:30.

Whew.

Now you can enjoy the park!

If you like big water rides, do the Vortex and the Whirlwind at the Boardwalk first to avoid hour+ waits later in the day. Then enjoy East Coast Waterworks. The wave pool, where your lounge chairs are located, is a fairly central location and a good place to relax with a drink and a snack mid-morning.

By noon, the Boardwalk is elbow-to-elbow people and the rides have long waits. That's a great time to change, stow your swimsuits in your locker and head out to see the rest of the park. The rides around Midway America (just outside The Boardwalk) should have short lines just after noon. If you're getting hungry, a great recommendation is the Sidewinder food court area. There are several good food stands there—a favorite is Mixed Grille, where you can actually find healthy food, and it's made from scratch. But there's a good burger stand, a sausage concession, a smoothie place and an ice cream place there, as well as a Subway, and it's a nice shaded area that tends to stay quiet.

Another tip: Take a break in the heat of the afternoon and head to the adjacent (and air-conditioned) Hershey's Chocolate World. It's just outside the main gate of Hersheypark, but it's easy to get a handstamp for a quick return to the rides. Chocolate World has recently reconfigured almost everything in the building—there’s the chocolate tour ride, a revamped merchandise area, a fairly good 3-D show, a chocolate-tasting experience, the "Factory Works" (kids get to "work" on a Kiss assembly line) and a Create Your Own Chocolate Bar attraction. It's worth spending at least an hour or two here. The milkshakes in the food court area are excellent and there are often new products and other surprises to be found around the central garden area.

Once you've returned to the park, don't forget to take in the shows. It's a nice break from the crowds and the entertainment value is excellent, whether you choose the aquatheater or one of the music/dance productions.


But Wait, There's More...Now How Much Would You Pay?

If you're in Hershey for more than a day and you want to see some other attractions, there are countless options nearby:

• Take a trip on the Hershey Trolley Works (tickets and departures from Chocolate World);
• Have lunch on the veranda or afour-star dining experience at the Hotel Hershey;
• Take a stroll through the Hershey Gardens (don't miss the Children's Garden and the Butterfly House);
• Play a round of golf at one of the courses in the Hershey Golf Collection;
• Take in The Hershey Story Museum downtown and by all means, schedule a class at the museum’s Chocolate Lab;
• Catch a performance or take a Spotlight Tour of the Hershey Theatre, offered Friday mornings year ‘round;
• See the animals at Hershey's ZooAmerica, a small zoo that's perfect for kids or a two-hour stroll;
• Stop by Founders Hall at the Milton S. Hershey school, gaze at the dome and find out what made Mr. and Mrs. Hershey so amazing;
• Go back in time and see more than 100 historic cars, buses and motorcycles at the AACA Museum;
• Visit Adventure Sports on Route 743S (batting cages, mini sports cars and boats, miniature golf and an arcade);
• Cool down at Indian Echo Caverns, just a few minutes west of Hershey;
  Stop by one of the many great downtown restaurants (we love Bricker's Pizza on West Chocolate Avenue for an Old World Pizza);
• Don't miss the Kiss-shaped streetlights while you're downtown, and by all means, drive past the factory on East Chocolate Avenue to see the Hershey Cocoa hedges on the east side;
• Visit the impressive Pennsylvania State Capitol building, located just 10 miles west of Hershey ;
• Take in all the sights (and tastes!) of Pennsylvania Amish Country, located less than an hour’s drive from Hershey.

I Love Reese's Day

 

How are you celebrating I Love Reese's Day?

That's right, it's today! So I hope you've made plans to sneak enjoy some of that Reese's chocolatey-peanut-butter goodness this evening. A Reese's Dark Chocolate s'more makes an excellent dessert. Just sayin'.

To keep that celebration going, check out these Reese's products to see if you've won some of the $2 million in cash prizes Reese's will give out this year in the Reese's Loves You Back™ promotion:

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• Reese's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• Reese's Big Cup Peanut Butter Cups
• Reese's® Pieces® Candies
  
• Reese's Crispy Crunchy Bars

Now you're probably wondering how we're celebrating I Love Reese's Day—well, thanks to The Hershey Company, we're giving away a prize package filled with Reese's love! More specifically, at noon on Friday, May 21, we'll use random.org to help us select a winner, who'll receive a specially selected combination of the five Reese's products involved in the Reese's Loves You Back™ promotion.

Entering is easy—just leave a comment with your favorite Reese's product right here, or on the Inside Hershey Facebook page.

Good luck!

Pronio's Market | Real Hershey

It's fun to spend a weekend at Hersheypark, stay at the luxurious Hotel Hershey and visit all the tourist attractions in the area. But if that's all you do, you'll miss the real Hershey.

If you're looking for the flavor of the real town, you need go no further than Pronio's Market, in the heart of Hershey at the corner of Caracas Avenue and Valley Road. There, you'll find a typical small-town grocery with a whole lot more: hard-to-find Italian specialties, local artisanal foods, friendly service and plenty of history.

In 1916, Michael and Rose Pronio opened Pronio’s Market as a “parlour market"—a small, in-home store that existed before autos and mass transportation were the norm.  From that first location in Spring Creek to its current location on Caracas Avenue (since 1962), Pronio's Market has taken great pride in offering the finest meats and freshest food items. Owner Vince Pronio and son Mike Pronio (who manages the store) are often on hand to personally greet their patrons (or grind some fresh meatloaf mix, if you need it!)

Our family has shopped at Pronio's since the store's beginnings; they were part of the influx of Italian immigrants who came in the early 1900s to help Milton Hershey built his town. Today, we take our kids where their great-grandparents shopped, happy to support a great family business that's also a wonderful part of the real Hershey.

What's New in Hershey?

Now that all that troublesome snow has melted, Hershey is preparing for another season of hosting out-of-town guests. Although there's no Big New Ride planned for Hersheypark this year, there are plenty of changes taking place around town that will make your stay in Chocolatetown even better!

Let's start with restaurants. The Fountain Café at the Hotel Hershey is now officially undergoing its transformation to an upscale Italian grill, which is slated to open this spring. And no more Tudor Grill at Hersheypark: it's rumored to be reopening as a family restaurant with a carousel theme.

In the village of Hershey, our favorite pizza place (Bricker's) has a new sister restaurant and bar next door called The Brickhouse (try the Angus burger there!) If you've ventured outside the Hershey orbit slightly to try the fine dining at al Mediterraneo in Hummelstown, you won't find it there—at least not in its former fine dining format. Al Mediterraneo has just reopened as The Gas Station gastro pub. Finally, if it's been more than a year since your last visit, you'll want to try the Hotel Hershey's new Harvest Restaurant and the new Devon Seafood Grill downtown (in the Hershey Press Building).

There are some non-culinary changes afoot in Hershey as well this year, and these are of the temporary-inconvenience-permanent-improvement variety. That's right, the dreaded road construction. There's a new bridge under construction over Swatara Creek, within sight of the GIANT Center. The bridge will replace the historic (and narrow) bridge just to the west on Hersheypark Drive.

While the bridge construction won't slow down many visitors, the realignment of Rt. 743 will irritate plenty of people for the next two years. Here's the scoop on the project, which will begin this summer and continue through 2012:

• Cocoa Ave. will be realigned beginning at the Cocoa Ave. / Caracas Ave. intersection and ending at Chocolate Ave. This will reduce the number of intersections from two to one in this area.
• Park Ave. will be realigned beginning at the Park. Ave. / Chocolate Ave. intersection and ending at the ZooAmerica parking lot entrance.
• A new bridge will be constructed east of the existing bridge to span over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. The existing bridge will be removed once this construction is finished.
• Park Boulevard (T-591) will be extended east to meet with the relocated Park Ave. roadway.
• New traffic signals will be installed at the Chocolate Ave. / Park Ave. intersection. Once the project is complete, only one signal will be used to control traffic in this area.

Definitely a needed improvement, and one that will ease traffic...eventually. But construction will have an impact on anyone driving through downtown Hershey in the meantime, and it's worth planning a detour if you're visiting Hershey this year!

Finally, Hershey's Chocolate World is adding a two-story, 1800-square-foot "factory experience" area that is expected to open by summer. Visitors will get to create their own chocolate bar, similar to the smaller Chocolate Lab program now available at The Hershey Story museum.

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.