Halloween Fun at Hershey Park #HersheyParkintheDark

_{A big thank you to Hershey for hosting us.}

It started as a beautiful, albeit cold Saturday morning. We were headed to Hershey, PA for what would be our second time visiting Hershey and playing at Hershey Park. The last time we were there it was summertime, which is their peak season. My family loves visiting theme parks during special holiday seasons for the fun decor and extra events.

Hershey Park in the Dark did not disappoint, and while it was not as packed as it was last summer, there was quite a crowd attending the first day of the Halloween festivities at Hershey. Many kids and adults were dressed up in their Halloween costumes, and I was wishing I’d picked warmer costumes for my kids so that they could participate too. However even kids who are not dressed up can take part in the trick or treating around the park.

We went on a few rides in the kiddie section. I have to mention that there are a good amount of rides available for the little ones scattered throughout the park. I love how Hershey park provides enough excitement for every age group. Unfortunately, the chilly breeze turned into freezing rain and wind so we decided to exit the park and spend the rest of the evening over at Hershey’s chocolate world.

Thankfully, there are many other fun things to experience over in Chocolate World. Not only is there a free ride that the kids love, but they have a cafeteria and so many gifts (and of course chocolate!) along with other activities. We decided to see the Hershey Great Chocolate Factory Mystery 4D movie. The kids loved it! We ate dinner in the cafe and then we participated in the Chocolate Tasting Adventure which was fantastic. There was even a trick or treat table in there so the kids at least got to do it at least once.

Before heading back to our home for the night, we did the Create Your Own Candy Bar experience. This was so much fun! We all enjoyed making our custom candy and creating our special labels. I did a broadcast on periscope and the viewers seemed to enjoy it too!

Speaking of our home for the night, we had the pleasure of staying at the Hershey Lodge. Both the lodge and our room were beautiful, and one of the best features of staying on Hershey property is the free shuttle service. Not only do you save on parking, but the convenience factor is the best. We will definitely be staying there again. I would also be remiss to not mention the delicious smelling bath products – I wish I could buy more of these!

 

With our stay, we received complimentary tickets to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story Museum. While we did not have time to visit the museum, we did carve out some time on Sunday to visit Hershey Gardens. Hershey Gardens was so lovely and there was so much to see. I found myself wondering how many portraits are taken at this location because it is absolutely breathtaking; I captured so many beautiful photos that day. There was a special greenhouse exhibit featuring Bonsai trees; who knew there were so many different types? The kids also loved the children’s garden, where they enjoyed finding treasures and making music.

During the Halloween season the gardens feature Pumpkin Glow from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 23, 24, 30 and 31. We were sorry we missed it, but there’s always next year.

Guests at Hershey Park may also tour Zoo America, free with admission. We didn’t have the time to visit on Saturday due to the inclement weather but we did stop on Sunday before leaving for home. We didn’t expect the zoo to be as amazing as it was. The scenery and the animals were beautiful, and I’d say this was the highlight of the trip for my children. The cutie pictured above is Buddy, who kept running back and forth to hang with us.

The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge offer a Halloween In Hershey Package that gives guests the following perks:

• Deluxe accommodations.
• Breakfast with the Hershey’s Characters.
• One-day admission to Hersheypark in the Dark.
• Admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience.

The package is available Fridays and Saturdays from October 16 through October 31 with prices starting from $489^* at Hershey Lodge and $559* at The Hotel Hershey, for a family of four.
*Price is per room per night, based on a family of four. Excludes tax and gratuities. Other restrictions may apply.

Check out my Hershey Park tips before you go!