The Hershey Holiday Season, Week by Week: Halloween to New Year's
Most people plan a Hershey holiday trip like it's one weekend. It isn't. From the end of October into the first days of January, the town runs one long holiday season, and each stretch of it has a different feel, different crowds, and different people in town. Here's how it breaks down, so you can pick the window that fits your trip (or stay for more than one)..
Halloween and late October: the warm-up act
Who's in town: Families in costume, couples on fall getaways, and people who figured out that Hershey doesn't wait for Thanksgiving to get festive.
What it feels like: Spooky-sweet, not scary. Pumpkins, candy, and fall color, with smaller crowds than December and no Candylane lines yet.
What to do:
- Hersheypark Dark Nights and Treatville. Dark Nights is the haunted-attractions side for older kids and adults, and Treatville is the costumes-and-candy side for younger ones. Hersheypark Halloween runs Friday through Sunday through November 1.
- Trick-or-Treat Trail at Hershey's Chocolate World. Kids 12 and under collect candy at sweet stops in the World's Largest Hershey's Store, with more stops next door in Treatville. Trick-or-treating in a town built around candy is hard to beat.
- Pumpkin Palooza at Hershey Gardens. Runs October 17, 18, 24, and 25. Kids can come in costume, trick-or-treat at four candy stations, and wander among 300+ hand-painted pumpkins.
- Pumpkin spice spa treatments. The Spa at The Hotel Hershey and MeltSpa by Hershey run seasonal treatments through November 30.
- Harrisburg for a grown-up night. Costume events and Halloween film screenings pop up in the Harrisburg area all month.
Good to know: Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so that weekend will be busy. The Halloween events at Hersheypark and Chocolate World are weekend-only, so a Friday night or a Sunday is the easier way to do it. Use weekdays for everything else (Chocolate World, Hershey Gardens, the spa). And if you're coming for Halloween, staying through Thanksgiving week or into early December means you catch the whole season without rebooking.
Thanksgiving week: the season kicks off
Who's in town: Families hosting dinner, people visiting relatives in the area, and road-trippers who'd rather drive in than deal with holiday airports.
What it feels like: Busy around the holiday itself, but the season is just getting started, so Candylane hasn't hit peak December crowds yet.
What to do:
- Run it off. Local Thanksgiving morning races are a tradition for a lot of families in the area.
- Get an early look at Candylane. Thanksgiving week is one of the best times to see the 5 million-plus lights before the December rush.
- Black Friday at Tanger Outlets Hershey. Ten minutes away and a lot calmer than a mall.
- Cook the meal yourself. If you're hosting or bringing the sides, a full kitchen beats trying to make Thanksgiving happen out of a hotel room.
Good to know: If you're coming in for Thanksgiving and want to see the Christmas stuff too, a stay that runs from Thanksgiving week into early December catches both without the peak-season crowds.
Early December: the sweet spot
Who's in town: Couples, remote workers, people in town for work or medical appointments, and anyone who planned ahead.
What it feels like: This is the most underrated stretch of the season. Everything is lit up, but it's noticeably quieter than the run-up to Christmas.
What to do:
- Candylane before the rush. Early in the season it's open on select dates, so check the Hersheypark calendar and grab a weeknight if one's available. The difference from a mid-December Saturday is huge.
- Chocolate World on a weekday. Saturdays are the busiest days there. Go midweek to see the Holiday Chocolate House (decorated entirely in Hershey's candy) without the crowds.
- Day trip to Lancaster. Lancaster Central Market (open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday) and the downtown shops are great for holiday gifts, and Lititz's main street is worth the extra 15 minutes.
- Harrisburg for an afternoon. Midtown, Broad Street Market (Wednesday through Saturday), and the Capitol are about 20 minutes away.
Good to know: If your dates are flexible, this is the window to aim for.
The week before Christmas: peak family season
Who's in town: Families with kids out of school, and everyone else who waited until December.
What it feels like: Full holiday mode. Busy, festive, and worth it, especially with kids.
What to do:
- Candylane and Chocolate World. The classics. Go at opening or on weekday evenings to skip the worst of the lines. New this year at Candylane: the Fire & Ice Experience and a bigger TREEville.
- Holiday lights around town. Candylane is the big show, and the neighborhood displays around Hershey are worth a slow evening drive.
- Downtown Hershey. Chocolate Avenue's streetlights are shaped like Hershey's Kisses. Your kids will notice.
Logistics that make or break this week: Grocery runs before the weekend rush, a place to wrap gifts, and laundry so you're not packing for two weeks. It sounds small. It's the difference between a vacation and a grind.
Christmas through New Year's: the slow week
Who's in town: Extended families, people staying through the holidays for work or medical care, and travelers who want to wind down instead of rush around.
What it feels like: Quieter and cozier. Plenty of places close or cut hours on Christmas Day, so it's a week for home-cooked meals and low-key days.
What to do:
- Christmas morning at "home." Easier when you have a living room and a kitchen instead of a hotel room.
- Candylane in its last stretch. The season wraps on January 3.
- New Year's Eve. Hershey keeps it low-key and family-friendly (Chocolate World hosts a New Year's Eve party). Harrisburg has more going on if you want a night out.
Good to know: Check holiday hours before you plan Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Plenty of spots close or open late.
Where to stay if you're here for more than a weekend
If you're staying two weeks or more, a hotel room gets old fast. Suites on Chocolate has nine furnished suites on a quiet residential street in Hershey, about 4 miles from Hersheypark. Each one has a full kitchen and laundry access, and there's a 15-night minimum, so your neighbors are other longer-stay guests and not weekend crowds.
- Suites 2 & 3 are our family picks. Suite 2 has two bedrooms across three floors plus a daybed area. Suite 3 is our biggest lofted suite, with two bedrooms on the loft level (including twin bunks the kids will fight over). Both have kitchens big enough for holiday meals.
- Suite 4 (the Park Suite) is a lofted one-bedroom, a great fit for couples, remote workers, and smaller groups, with the bedroom and office space up in the loft.
FAQ
When does Hersheypark Christmas Candylane start?
Candylane runs on select dates from November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Check Hersheypark's calendar for exact open days and hours.
What is there to do in Hershey for Halloween?
Hersheypark Dark Nights and Treatville, the Trick-or-Treat Trail at Chocolate World, and Pumpkin Palooza at Hershey Gardens are the big ones. Check each venue's site for this year's dates.
Does Hershey Sweet Lights still run?
No. After 20 seasons, Hershey Sweet Lights is not returning in 2026. Hersheypark is putting that energy into a bigger Christmas Candylane instead.
Is Hershey worth visiting at Christmas?
Yes. Between Candylane, Chocolate World, and the downtown lights, it's one of the most festive small towns on the East Coast. Plus Lancaster and Harrisburg are close by.
What's open on Christmas Day in Hershey?
Less than usual. Many restaurants and attractions close or cut hours, so plan to cook or make reservations ahead.
What's the best week to visit Hershey with kids for the holidays?
The week before Christmas has the most going on. Halloween and Thanksgiving week are good alternatives with fewer crowds.
Where should I stay in Hershey for two weeks or more over the holidays?
Look for a furnished extended-stay suite with a full kitchen and laundry. Suites on Chocolate offers 15+ night stays in a quiet neighborhood close to everything in Hershey.
Suites on Chocolate · 9 furnished suites · 15-night minimum · Quiet residential neighborhood in Hershey, PA · ~4 miles from Hersheypark · Full kitchens · suitesonchocolate.com