CHRISTMAS IN HERSHEY

November 17 to December 31, 2006

Click here for operating hours.

Always check Hershey's official site for up-to-the-minute information as it is always subject to change.

 All rides, entertainment and ZooAmerica are included in your one price admission:

Admission $9.95

Ages 2 and under FREE

OVERNIGHT PACKAGES

Hersheypark will, again, be offering overnight packages for Christmas In Hershey, which include admission to Hershey Museum and special breakfast/lunch with Santa. Click to here learn more.

HERSHEYPARK CHRISTMAS CANDYLANE ENTERTAINMENT  

2005 Entertainment will be posted when Hershey releases any new information!

When you are in the holiday mood, head on out to beautiful Hershey, PA. The town gets festive for the holidays and the centerpiece is Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. The entire family will love roaming the park and taking in the beautiful holiday lights, spectacular Christmas displays, live reindeer,  antique window displays and of course, Santa in his castle. There is also selected holiday rides including the Candylane Twilight Express through Santa's Magical Forest and the 50 foot KISSmas Tree!

Besides Candylane, visit nearby Hershey's Chocolate World which also gets decked out for the holidays! The building and retail area are beautifully decorated, well worth a walk around! You can also check out the free Chocolate Making Tour, Hershey's Factory Works and Hershey's Really BIG 3-D Show.  After Chocolate World, visit Hershey Museum filled with holiday festivities and take a drive through Hershey Sweetlights. There is plenty to see in do that makes Hershey, not only a summer destination, but a year-round destination as well.

As what Hershey says...."There's no place like Hershey for the holidays!"

Due to several requests of me featuring a review of Candylane to this page, I decided to let you know my thoughts of this year's Christmas Candylane event.

As many of you know, Hersheypark has been putting on their fabulous holiday event Candylane for over twenty years now. I have my fondest Candylane memories over the years, like the Lollipop Line for the first time or ever wondering what the Twilight Express was going to be like in its inaugural year. But this year's festival has to be the best ever. The mix of Christmas music, lights and decorations were well put together.

One of my first comments I would like to make is the selection of holiday music that was chosen for this year's event. It is nice to finally have some different music playing throughout the place, not hearing Michael Bolton singing through most areas, like in past years as well as the same versions of music that are heard over and over, year after year. It really helps add to the atmosphere of the place to switch the music around from year to year and it make you look forward in planning that returning visit next year.

As I strolled through the park, I could not help but be awe-struck at the amount of lights and decorations that were throughout the park. Comet Hollow, for example, in the past few years, was a somewhat dead area to view any kind of lights or decorations, with the exception of a few animated light displays from the Skyview, including the chirping frogs, which are a favorite of mine and my friends. This year, I was surprised at what I saw in this area, more lights and light displays.

The rides were really decked out for the holiday celebration this season as well. This had to be one of the best years for the Candylane Twilight Express (the holiday conversion of the Dry Gulch Railroad for anyone here that may not know). I have to say that light displays were spectacular as always!  Storm Runner,  joined in on the celebration which was illuminated with red and green lights. Even the Sunoco Classic Cars got their own name during Candylane, the Sunoco TWINkling Turnpike, a perfect name for the light displays seen on that ride.

For any of you that ride the monorail and Candylane Twilight Express know that in previous years, both rides play music depending on the time of when you visit. This year was no exception. The music really adds to both rides in which you can take in the lights and decorations. 2005 offered plenty of "new" displays including a "Winter Village" arch.

And there are plenty of "holiday" attractions, like meeting Santa in his castle, back in the "re-themed" Minetown area called Santa Claus Lane. There are even antique window displays, the park purchased several years ago, which I always enjoy every year. The park even brings in nine "live" reindeer which are featured for viewing.

Even the entertainment is outstanding. Storytelling by local personalities are featured on select nights as well as "A Music Box Christmas" featured in the Music Box Theatre. While I, myself never seen this show, I had heard rave reviews about it. However, I did see the Kissmas Tree and that is a spectacular light show. Each show is different with lights flashing off and on synchronized to music on a 50 foot tree, topped with a Hershey's Kiss. This show is a must see when visiting Candylane.

From reading my review, I hope you get a feel of this spectacular holiday event and if you never visited before, I strongly encourage you to visit during this upcoming holiday season. You will not be disappointed.  Another job well done, I surely can't wait till next year's Candylane event, where there will probably be something new. A true highlight to my, and anyone else's, holiday list!

(2006 ride list will appear when Hershey releases any new info!)

TBD~ these rides have not yet been confirmed officially by the park. Please contact or check the park's official site until an accurate list is posted.

This list is always subject to change. For complete information, please check Hersheypark's website to confirm. As Hershey's list is updated, I will keep this list updated as well. Please check back often for changes!

NOTE: Photos were all taken at the park by the webmaster of this site. If you would like to use any of the photos, you MUST first email me. I will be more than happy to let you use them. Logos are trademarks of HERCO.

And while visiting Hershey during your Holiday Getaway, don't forget to to take a drive through Hershey Sweetlights, the newest addition to the Christmas In Hershey celebration. Hershey Sweetlights is made up of winding trails featuring sparkling light displays nestled in the woods behind  the Hotel Hershey, just off Hersheypark Drive. Be sure to visit Hershey's website for more details and pricing.