Experiencing Christmas with kids is such a magical experience. There is nothing better than watching their faces light up when they see something absolutely magical. That is why I was so excited to take the kids to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane this year.
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and opens its doors November 15 to January 1st for a truly magical experience. There you will see a festive display of more than 4 million lights come twinkle as you experience Hersheypark in a completely different way. At Hersheypark Christmas Candylane you will get to see the lights, ride the rides, visit Santa and experience so much more!
History of Hersheypark
Hersheypark was built in 1907 by Milton S. Hershey. It was originally designed as a place for the plant’s factory workers and town residents to get together for a little fun and frivolity. The park has since expanded, adding thrill rides for people of all ages to experience the joy of having fun and creating memories together. During the holiday season, Hersheypark is transformed into Christmas Candylane, sparkling with four million twinkling lights. You’ll find rides for the kids, traditional park food with a few seasonal favorites, and some holiday entertainment. Even Santa Claus and his reindeer make an appearance.
What Can You Expect at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane?
When you go to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane you will have so much fun as there are so many things to do and see!
Holiday Rides & Coasters
During Christmas Candylane there are several rides and coasters open so that you can have some trills as you look at all the lights. In 2019 the coasters open will be Laff Trakk, Sidewinder, sooperdooperLooper®, Wild Mouse, Wildcat, and Cocoa Cruiser, and more.
See the Festive Lights and Be Entertained
This year, more than 4 million lights will light up Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. As you walk and see the sights you will be blown away by the beauty it all. Parts of the lights are choreographed to music for a fantastic show. Not only that, but you will see live entertainment throughout the park you won’t want to miss.
Refillable Souvenir Hot Chocolate Mug
Don’t miss out this year on the tasty hot chocolate made with Hershey’s chocolate. When you purchase tickets to the park you can add on your souvenir mug where you can choose buying it and then paying a small fee to refill it all day or you can opt to spend a little bit more up from for free refills all day long! Some of the Hershey lodgings allow you to fill your mug up there as well. If you are trying to save money like we all like to do this time of year, just buy a couple of mugs and everyone shares it rather than buying one for each person in the family. We love taking our souvenir mugs home so that we can remember our trip every time we use it. 
Santa and His Reindeer
There is no place quite like Hersheypark this holiday season because Santa is stopping by as well with his 9 reindeer so that you can take the kids to see! Santa even brings Rudolph with him to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. This is always my kid’s favorite part! Walking by the large pen, seeing the elves and asking them all the hard questions like Why doesn’t Rudolph’s nose glow? Why aren’t the reindeer flying? Deep down this is one of my favorite parts as well. 
Kissing Tower at Hersheypark
Don’t miss going to see Kissing Tower while visiting the park! It is fun for everyone. Kissing Tower is not really a ride, but an experience. Each person sits in a seat in a car and then rises up to about 250 feet in the tower. You then get to look out over all of Hersheypark Christmas Candylane and see the night sky filled with Christmas lights everywhere.
Hershey Preview Plan
If you are going to Hersheypark this year you will want to take advantage of the free preview plan. A sweet sneak peek is included on every plan this year. Thank you, Hersheypark! Hersheypark is offering up to 3.5 hours free for you to experience the park the day before your full-day tickets start. If you are staying at the official resorts of Hershey you can get up to 4.5 hours free. For more details go to the free preview plan page.
Hershey Park Lodging
When traveling to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane take advantage of the lodging at an official Hersheypark hotel. Not only are there great benefits like free shuttles to the front gate and best price on tickets, but you can also take advantage of:
- FREE admission to Hershey Gardens
- FREE admission to Hershey Story’s Museum Experience
- Access to golf courses
- Preferred pricing to ZooAmerica® North American Wildlife Park
- Indoor Pool Access
Find out more about staying at a Hersheypark resort hotel.
Hershey Characters
Even though it is wintertime, the Hershey characters are still out and about! If you are lucky you might run into Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or York Peppermint Patties wandering around, so have your camera handy to snap a picture with them. 
Have S’ more Fun at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
It’s not the holiday season without s’mores and Hersheypark has some of the best. These s’more are amazing and the whole family will love as they chose between Hershey bars or peanut butter cups for a tasty treat.
Decorate Cookies
That’s right. If your kids love to decorate cookies but don’t love the mess it makes, do it at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. For a small fee, you can decorate a cookie and then enjoy it!
Don’t Miss Storytime
Check the schedule in the morning, because you won’t want to miss storytime with the elf. Your kids will love listening to the story the elf tells each day. 
How Do I Get Tickets to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane?
To book your trip and to order tickets online you can go to to the Hersheypark Christmas Candylane website, there you can buy your tickets, book your lodging, and add your add ons like your fast passes, your souvenir cups, meal plans and more. While visiting Hersheypark don’t forget to go to the Interactive Experiences in Chocolate World right next door. 
Thanks to the folks at Hershey Public Relations for giving us the chance to experience Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. Main photo courtesy of Hershey.