The Complete List of Must-Dos in Hershey, PA This Fall

The Sweetest Place on Earth is even more fun (is that possible?) when the seasons change. Fall is officially here, and as a Sweetest Moms Ambassador I’m sharing the inside scoop on all of the things you don’t want to miss in Hershey, PA this fall. There is some frightfully good fun to be had!

Hersheypark In The Dark

Hersheypark In The Dark features more than 50 rides and attractions including 13 roller coasters and Halloween-themed live entertainment. Guests visiting the Park will experience:

• NEW Laff Trakk will be a dark ride experience during all operating hours. In addition, the Park will once again turn the lights off the last operating hour of each evening on our three wooden roller coasters: Comet, Lightning Racer and Wildcat.
• Hershey’s Trick-or-Treat Adventure with two locations – Hershey’s Chocolate World and Treatville, a hometown village of treats and sweets inside Hersheypark, for children 12 and younger (costumes are encouraged).
• Fall-themed food and beverage offerings including pumpkin funnel cakes, pumpkin chili and more!
• Live entertainment including favorites “Screaming Mummies,” a band of misfit mummies and their classic Halloween tunes, performing in the Amphitheatre. Additional entertainment offerings including “Boo Crew,” “Monster Party,” and “Treatville Tales” will be located at the exit of Treatville.
• Hersheypark In The Dark will offer meet and greet opportunities with your favorite Hershey’s Characters.

This is definitely our favorite part of fall in Hershey. This year the park is open the following weekends:

• October 14-16
• October 21-23
• October 28-30

Creatures of the Night at ZooAmerica

Included in the one-price admission to Hersheypark In The Dark, guests are invited to bring a flashlight to experience Creatures Of The Night at ZooAmerica. This is the only time of the year when guests can enjoy the Zoo after dark and experience:

• NEW See our newest additions – two black bears and two armadillos!
• Guests may observe the nocturnal habits of North American species with programs and activities nightly starting at 6 p.m.
• Pumpkin treats for select animals.
• Guests are encouraged to bring a flashlight, or purchase one at the gift shop.
• For guests who are only wishing to enjoy Creatures Of The Night (starting at 6 p.m.) or ZooAmerica (open daily at 10 a.m.), there is a separate admission at the Zoo’s off-street entrance.

Splash and Play at Hershey Lodge

We love Hershey Lodge and the brand new Water Works. What a fun way to pretend it’s still warm outside, right? The new indoor pool complex includes two interactive indoor pools, Twizzlers Twists Slides, Reese’s Water Walk, water play structures and the Cocoa Cabana dining location with a full bar.

The Hersheypark In The Dark Package is available at Hershey Lodge and includes:

• Deluxe accommodations.
• Breakfast with Hershey’s Characters.
• One-day admission to Hersheypark In The Dark.
• Admission to Hershey Gardens (including the new year-round Butterfly Atrium).
• Admission to The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience.

The package is available Friday and Saturday nights from October 14 -30 Get more information on that here.

Fall Treatments at the Spa at Hershey Hotel

From September 1 through November 30, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey offers guests fall-themed treatments to relax their mind and body.

• Pumpkin Latte Manicure & Pedicure
• Pumpkin Spice Scrub
• Pumpkin Soufflé Wrap
• Fall Pumpkin Scrub Wrap Combo

How amazing do these sound? Sign me up!

Hershey’s Chocolate World

With fun for the whole family each weekend during Halloween In Hershey, Hershey’s Chocolate World guests enjoy:

• Hershey’s Trick-Or-Treat Adventure: The candy collecting begins at Hershey’s Chocolate World and continues inside Hersheypark.
• Full Moon Fridays: Dress up and enter Hershey Hallow for spook-tacular music, dancing with the Hershey’s Characters and more ghostly activities.
• Flavors of Fall Dessert Festival: Bite into the delicious flavors of fall, such as the Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
• Trick-or-Treat Trolley: Limited edition tours featuring Milton Hershey’s life story in a fall themed Trolley with plenty of treats and no tricks.
• Tricky Treats & Sweets: Shop Halloween treats in Hershey’s largest candy store and pick up delightful sweets from the bakery.

If you want to have the best Halloween candy on the block, this is where you need to shop. Oh, the temptation in here!

The Hershey Story Museum

Visitors can learn about the history of chocolate at The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue, and families can experience:

• Ghosts & Goodies: Kids are encouraged to wear their favorite costume as they create ghostly treats using Hershey’s candy. This is a FREE event and is held October 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hershey Gardens

I love Hershey Gardens. We went this past summer to check out the new Butterfly Atrium (which is open year-round so you can visit it this fall, too!). Such a fun day with my family, and they have some really neat things planned for fall.

Hershey Gardens lights up the night with more than 150 uniquely carved illuminated pumpkins and a variety of whimsical scarecrows that come to life along the path some, during its annual Pumpkin Glow. Kids ages 12 and younger are invited to bring a flashlight, come in costume, trick-or-treat throughout the Gardens and experience:

• NEW See a unique collection of live spiders and insects in the Educational & Horticultural Wing of the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory.
• Listen to a garden-themed story.
• Collect candy treats at stops along the Gardens’ paths.
• Watch live pumpkin carving demonstrations.
• Please note, the Butterfly Atrium will be closed during Pumpkin Glow hours.

Pumpkin Glow is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on October 21, 22, 28 and 29. Tickets may be purchased online at www.HersheyGardens.com or at the door.

Hershey Trolley Works

I rode on Hershey Trolley Works maybe a year ago and it is so much fun. Not only was it really educational, but the tour guide is so entertaining (and he passes out chocolate for the duration of the tour, so there’s that).

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.

Chocotober Fest

Um, hello. Choctober Fest? This is calling my name. October 15 brings the 2nd annual Choctoberfest on ChocolateTown Square in downtown Hershey from noon to 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.

Hershey Halloween Parade

I’m so excited about this! We’ve been looking for a good Halloween parade to take the kids to. 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!

Trunk or Treat

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.

Spooky Shows At Hershey Theatre

This theater is just stunning. And this is going to be so much fun for Halloween!  On October 29, catch The Goonies Classic Film at 7 p.m. and/or The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 11:59 p.m. at Hershey Theatre. Tickets are $8 per person and are available at the theatre box office or Ticketmaster.

Hershey Bears Season Kicks Off

Hershey Bears kick off their season with their first game on October 22. We went to our first hockey game last year and had the BEST time! Omigosh, so fun. If you haven’t taken the kids you really need to! Get ticketing info here.

 

So what are you going to do in Hershey this fall? So many choices! You can learn more about what’s happening in The Sweetest Place on Earth in October on the Hershey Stories Blog.