Christmas in Hershey turns the whole town into something out of a storybook. Lights climb the trees along Chocolate Avenue, and shop windows fill with ribbon and pine. Even the air smells a little sweeter once the season sets in.
We love decorating the porch and parlor for the season, from string lights to a fire going most evenings. It’s become one of our favorite parts of the year.
This guide walks through the best ways to spend Christmas in Hershey. Settle in, and start planning your holiday getaway.
Why Spend Christmas in Hershey, PA?
Plenty of small Pennsylvania towns decorate for the holidays, but Christmas in Hershey goes further than most. The town leans hard into its “Sweetest Place on Earth” reputation, with chocolate treats, holiday displays, and a festive buzz that builds through the season.
Families come for the big show, and couples find their own reasons to slow down together. A slow drive past Christmas lights near Hershey and a warm drink somewhere quiet keep things easygoing. However you spend the day, our porch is a short drive from it all!
Christmas Candylane at Hersheypark
Every winter, Hersheypark turns into Christmas Candylane, decked out with more than five million lights. The NOEL light show syncs a quarter million of those bulbs to holiday music, and it’s one of our favorite things to point guests toward. The Kissmas Tree and a decorated Kisses Fountain give visitors plenty to photograph.
Several rides and coasters keep running for the season, weather permitting. Santa and his nine reindeer settle in at the Reindeer Stables for the season. An expanded viewing platform makes it easy to spot Rudolph up close.
Candylane runs on select dates from mid-November through early January, so it’s worth checking the calendar before planning a visit.
Visit Koziar’s Christmas Village
Koziar’s Christmas Village started small in 1948, when William Koziar decorated his own house for his family. Neighbors kept stopping to look, and it grew into one of Pennsylvania’s most visited holiday attractions, set in the Tulpehocken Creek Valley in Berks County.
We love that half a million lights and glasshouse scenes, like the toy shop and an underwater Christmas display, still feel homemade. Bundle up for the outdoor stretch, then warm up inside before saying hello to Santa.
The season opens the first Saturday in November and runs through the first week of January. It’s a little under an hour’s drive from Hershey, but one of our favorite ways to round out a holiday weekend.
Explore Holiday Train Displays
A good model train display gets us every time, and the one at the Hershey History Center is worth an afternoon. Local volunteers built the Chocolate Town Special, a detailed 1920s scene of downtown Hershey and the surrounding countryside.
Three narrow-gauge trains trace the old Lebanon branch of the Reading Railroad, a nod to how that rail line shaped the community’s growth. Models of historic Hershey buildings, including the Chocolate Factory, sit alongside trolley cars in motion. Visitors can even operate some of the interactive scenes and sounds themselves.
More Holiday Events and Attractions Near Hershey
There’s no shortage of things to do in Hershey at Christmas beyond the big three. Here are a few of our favorite quieter stops for the season.
- Hershey’s Chocolate World: Decked out with a decorated Chocolate House display and a seasonal stop for Santa.
- Hershey Gardens: Home to the Christmas Tree Showcase each winter, with decorated trees by local designers and a butterfly atrium dressed for the season.
- Tröegs Independent Brewing: Maker of Mad Elf, the cherry-and-honey holiday ale that’s become a Hershey tradition of its own each November.
Beyond these, Hershey’s calendar fills up each season with events that vary from year to year, including concerts, parades, craft shows, and more. Check our Hershey holiday events guide for what’s on this year.
Holiday Shopping in Hershey
Shopping is one of the easiest Hershey Christmas activities to fit into a day, and it stretches well beyond stocking stuffers shaped like Kisses. Tanger Outlets Hershey covers the big-name gifts, with dozens of shops under one roof and easy parking on colder days.
For something more local, Toys on the Square carries screen-free, unique toys worth seeking out. Desserts Etc. on Chocolate Avenue bakes fresh daily, with gluten-free, keto, flourless, and vegan options for every diet, each one delectable enough to gift.
Hershey’s Chocolate World rounds things out with the town’s largest candy store. It’s the perfect stop for the chocolate lovers on your gift list. A slow walk down Chocolate Avenue afterward, storefronts lit for the season, makes for an easy way to end the afternoon.
Stay Close to the Best Christmas Events in Hershey
Christmas in Hershey moves fast, from Candylane’s lights to Koziar’s glowing valley to a quiet afternoon watching model trains. There’s a lot worth seeing, and only so many weekends between Thanksgiving and January to see it all.
Staying at 1825 Inn Bed and Breakfast means less driving and more time at whatever’s on your list. Come back to a decorated porch and a warm breakfast each morning, no matter how full your schedule gets.
Ready to plan your Christmas getaway? Book your stay at 1825 Inn and spend the season close to everything Hershey does best!
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