Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane transforms Hersheypark into a dazzling winter wonderland with more than five million lights, seven coasters (weather permitting), holiday shows, Santa Claus, and a visit with all nine of his live reindeer. It’s one of Pennsylvania’s most beloved seasonal attractions and a perfect fit for families with toddlers, teens, and every age in between.
✨ What You’ll See & Do
Millions of Dancing Lights
The park lights up with over five million lights across themed areas, including the iconic Kissmas Tree near the front gate and the fan-favorite NOEL light show, featuring dancing lights choreographed to holiday music.
Holiday Entertainment
Families can enjoy the brand-new Twinkling Thru Time holiday show inside the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre. This indoor performance blends storytelling, singing, and seasonal magic—perfect for warming up little hands and taking a sensory break.
Rides for Every Age
Weather permitting, seven coasters may be open during Candylane, including:
- Wildcat’s Revenge
- Candymonium
- Jolly Rancher Remix
- sooperdooperLooper
- Wild Mouse
- Cocoa Cruiser
- Laugh Trakk
Families will also find dozens of kiddie rides, classic favorites like the Ferris wheel, and the peaceful Kissing Tower.
Holly Jolly Train Rides
The Candylane train ride takes families through twinkling displays and holiday scenes—always a huge hit with toddlers and the “I need to sit down now” parents.
🦌 Santa & His Reindeer
Hersheypark is one of the only places in the Northeast where you can see all 9 of Santa’s live reindeer in one place at the beautifully decorated reindeer stables. ZooAmerica staff are available to answer questions and share fun facts.
📍 Good to Know
- Location: Hersheypark, Hershey PA
- Season: Select dates mid-November through early January
- Tickets: Available online; mobile entry recommended
- Parking: Paid parking; discounts for advance online purchase
- Cashless: Hersheypark, ZooAmerica, and The Chocolatier are fully cashless
- Bring: One sealed water bottle per person or empty refillable bottles; strollers welcome
- Accessibility: Families may use the Attraction Accessibility Program for ride guidance and accommodations
🎁 Perfect For
- Families with a wide age range
- Kids who love lights, shows, rides, and reindeer
- Parents looking for a slower, more magical pace than peak summer visits
- Neurodivergent kids who benefit from predictable routines and indoor break spots
Business Review
Our Family’s First-Ever Visit to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
After a decade of parenting and roughly eight million trips to Hersheypark in every other season, we finally did it — we took our full, mixed-age, mixed-sensory, five-kid crew to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane for the very first time.
Yes. First time.
When you have a neurodivergent kiddo, the holiday math gets… complicated. You pack a Plan A. You pack a Plan B. You mentally prepare for Plan C, which usually involves going home early and eating cookies while wrapped in blankets like emotional burritos.
I genuinely was not sure if Candylane was the right choice for Rhys. But we went anyway. And friends — it was magic.
He loved the reindeer. He loved the Ferris wheel. He loved the train through the holiday lights. The entire night was a win — a full five-kid, mixed-age, sensory-variable, holiday-chaos win.
✨ A Night Where Everyone Got What They Wanted (???)
One thing about visiting Hersheypark as a large family with wildly different interests: someone ALWAYS wants a coaster, someone ALWAYS wants a kiddie ride, and someone ALWAYS needs a snack immediately or civilization will crumble.
But Candylane? Candylane was the great equalizer.
The slower pace. The shorter lines. The gentler glow of five million lights convincing all children that happiness is possible. We didn’t feel rushed or overstimulated. We didn’t need to divide and conquer. We took turns picking rides — and somehow stayed together the whole time.
In fact — brace yourself — we WALKED RIGHT ONTO WILDCAT’S REVENGE.
I’m not saying it was a Christmas miracle…but if the Hershey Kiss light posts had started singing carols in four-part harmony, I would not have questioned it.
🦌 Reindeer, Elves, and Pure Holiday Joy
The real reindeer were everything. The elves? Hilarious, warm, and fully committed to the bit in a way that brought me deep personal joy.
🎄 The Decorations? Simply Gorgeous.
The whole place was absolutely stunning — every path glowing, every tree sparkling, every corner looking like it was sponsored by “The Part of the Hallmark Movie Where They Fall In Love.”
🎅 And Yes — We Saw Santa
The big man himself. The kids sat with him, told him their hopes and dreams, and shockingly no one asked for a puppy.
Overall, Candylane was everything we needed it to be — festive, calm, joyful, and accessible for every kind of kid. We never felt like someone was missing out, and we never once had to sprint across the park like we were competing on a family-themed version of “The Amazing Race.”
It was truly a night we’ll remember. And if you’re a family juggling different ages, different needs, and different energy levels — you might find your holiday sweet spot here too.
🎁 Top 10 Tips for Surviving (and Loving!) Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Because holiday magic is real, but so are bedtime meltdowns, sensory overload, and the moment when one kid wants a high-thrill coaster and another is deeply committed to the kiddie carousel lifestyle.
- Arrive Early… Or Strategically Late.
Early = fewer crowds. Late = twinkle lights at peak sparkle. Pick your strategy based on nap schedule, teen moods, or how many emotional spoons you have left. - Use the Hersheypark App.
It gives real-time ride availability and wait times. Also helpful for avoiding the “WHY is that ride closed?” meltdown from any age between 3 and 43. - Have a Group Plan (But Keep It Loose).
Pick 3 shared must-dos. Everything else is bonus magic. This prevents tears when one child wants Wildcat’s Revenge and another wants a peppermint stick and absolutely nothing else. - Divide & Conquer… But Not Too Much.
At Christmas Candylane, the slower pace and shorter lines mean more time together. You can actually stay as a group and still hit everyone’s favorites. A Christmas miracle. - Pace the Sugar Intake.
Hot chocolate, King Size shakes, kettle corn, TREEts… Space it out unless you want a child vibrating at frequencies only Santa can hear. - Plan Your Warm-Up Spots.
Music Box Theatre, OVERLOOK Arcade, indoor character greetings… Great for giving cold little hands (and overwhelmed little brains) a reset. - Don’t Skip the Reindeer.
They’re real. They’re majestic. And your kids will ask seventeen questions about their digestive systems. Just roll with it. - Yep — You Can Walk Right On Some Big Rides.
We literally WALKED ONTO Wildcat’s Revenge. I am still not over it. You won’t be either. - Pack Smart.
Layers. Gloves. A backup pair of gloves. A stroller if you have littles. Snacks. More snacks. Even more snacks. A strong moral center for saying no to a fifth hot chocolate. - End With Something Cozy.
The train ride, a stroll through TREEville, hot chocolate on the way out — choose something sweet to wind everyone down. It’s the difference between “that was magical” and “WHY IS EVERYONE CRYING.”
Bonus Tip for Families with Neurodivergent Kids
Bring headphones, a lovey, or whatever comfort tools your child prefers. Candylane is sensory-friendly in all the best ways — slower pace, lots of open space, shorter lines — but having familiar supports on hand can make the difference between a good night and a great one.
