Some seasonal traditions feel permanent right up until they suddenly aren’t. That’s the reality Hersheypark fans are facing this week, as the park confirmed the end of a drive-thru holiday experience that families had folded into their winter routine for two full decades. This news lands alongside several other major changes the park just rolled out as its summer season came to a close, giving Hersheypark regulars plenty to reconsider before their next trip.
Quite a bit to catch up on here:
- Hershey Sweet Lights wrapping up after 20 years on the road
- The stated reasoning behind ending the drive-thru experience
- A beloved 32-year-old water ride taking its final splash
- What Hersheypark still has planned through the rest of the year
Twenty Seasons, and Now the Lights Go Out
Hersheypark announced Tuesday that Hershey Sweet Lights will not be returning this holiday season. The park confirmed the news directly, writing, “After 20 seasons of holiday magic, Hershey Sweet Lights has taken its final drive. Thank you to every family who made the drive-thru a part of your holiday tradition.”
Hershey Sweet Lights debuted back in 2005 as a drive-thru holiday experience, letting guests cruise past themed light displays synced to music without ever leaving their car. Across two decades, it grew into a legitimate annual tradition for countless families, which makes this closure land differently than the quiet retirement of a minor seasonal attraction.
Why Hersheypark Says the Timing Makes Sense
Per the Hersheypark website, ending Sweet Lights comes down to a strategic shift toward a different holiday event already well established at the park. Hersheypark explained the Sweet Lights would not be returning so the company can “focus on growing Hersheypark Christmas Candylane,” its on-foot holiday celebration that continues into early January each year.
That explanation points to a deliberate reallocation of resources rather than a simple cost cutting move. Still, for families who specifically valued the drive-thru format and everything that came with experiencing the lights from inside their own car, the reasoning likely won’t make losing a 20 year tradition sting any less.
Another Major Farewell Just Happened Days Earlier
The Sweet Lights news comes right after another significant closure Hersheypark confirmed only days prior. September 7 marked the final day of the park’s 120th summer operating season, and alongside that milestone, Hersheypark also said goodbye to Tidal Force, a water ride that had been part of The Boardwalk for 32 years.
Hersheypark had already announced Tidal Force’s closure earlier this year, confirming the ride would shut down once summer wrapped. On September 6, the park posted an official farewell on social media, writing, “After 32 years, it’s time for Tidal Force to set sail. Visit us for one last ride through Monday.” The ride carried guests up a 100 foot incline before delivering a splashdown reaching speeds beyond 50 miles per hour, drenching riders and bystanders alike since it first opened back in 1994.
Hersheypark hasn’t shared a specific reason for closing Tidal Force, and there’s no current indication of what might eventually replace it. Guests visiting The Boardwalk in the near future will simply find an empty space where the ride used to run.
The Park Isn’t Wrapping Up Just Yet
Despite ending its summer season and losing both Sweet Lights and Tidal Force within the same week, Hersheypark still has plenty on the calendar. Beginning September 12, the park returns every weekend through November 1 for its annual fall lineup, Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights. Both the family friendly daytime event and the horror themed nighttime experience come included with regular admission, though guests wanting Fast Track access or tasting passes will need to pay extra.
Most weekends through November 1 follow a fairly predictable pattern. Fridays run Hersheypark from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with Dark Nights operating 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Saturdays stretch daytime hours from noon to 10:00 p.m., again with Dark Nights running 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Sundays close out a bit earlier, with Hersheypark open from noon to 9:00 p.m. and Dark Nights running 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Guests planning a visit should still check the official operating calendar ahead of time, since schedules are subject to change.
Christmas Candylane Takes Center Stage
Once Halloween festivities wrap on November 1, Hersheypark shifts directly into Christmas Candylane, its annual holiday event running select dates through January 3, 2027. The celebration features more than two million lights spread throughout the park, opportunities to meet Santa and his reindeer, and Christmas themed overlays applied to select roller coasters for the season. With Sweet Lights now gone, Christmas Candylane becomes Hersheypark’s primary holiday offering, and it’s reasonable to expect continued investment and expansion here in the coming years.
After Christmas Candylane concludes, Hersheypark closes for the season entirely, typically reopening sometime in early April. An exact reopening date for 2027 hasn’t been announced yet.
Adjusting Your Own Hersheypark Plans
For families who built Hershey Sweet Lights into their annual winter routine, this year represents a genuine shift, and it’s worth updating your holiday plans if a Sweet Lights drive was already on the calendar. Christmas Candylane remains available as an alternative, though it’s a walking experience rather than a drive-thru, a real difference for anyone who specifically loved experiencing the lights from the comfort of their car.
Guests planning a fall visit should also factor in the new weekend only schedule, since Hersheypark won’t return to daily operations until its 2027 season begins. And if Tidal Force was part of your regular Hersheypark routine, that ride simply isn’t an option anymore, with nothing yet announced to take its place on The Boardwalk.
What did Hershey Sweet Lights mean to your family over the years, and will Christmas Candylane become your new holiday tradition instead? Share your thoughts and favorite Hersheypark memories with us in the comments.
