Calling all frazzled parents in need of holiday magic! If you’re the kind of mom who has tackled Target at 8 a.m., untangled a string of Christmas lights with one hand, and fended off three “can we get this?” requests in the grocery store checkout line, Hershey Gardens has your holiday rescue plan ready. Imagine a place where someone else has already decorated, planned the crafts, and set up the photo ops. Sound like a dream? Hershey Gardens is here to make it a reality. Let’s unwrap what they have in store!
1. The Christmas Tree Showcase: Nov. 22 – Jan. 5
This isn’t your average tree display, folks. Hershey Gardens has ten professionally decorated trees, designed by local creatives who actually know how to drape tinsel without getting it tangled in the ceiling fan. Stroll through the indoor winter wonderland, ooh and aah at the 14-foot poinsettia tree, marvel at the 8-foot bromeliad tree (yep, they’re mixing things up), and just bask in the glory of holiday spirit minus the stress.
And new this year—drumroll, please—a photo op with a car from Hersheypark’s Comet roller coaster, decked out as Santa’s sleigh! Yes, you read that right. Snap your family pic in a genuine roller coaster car and officially win “most epic holiday card” in the group chat.
 |
2. Crafty Christmas Creations: Saturdays through Dec. 28
Who doesn’t love a good holiday craft? But before you have flashbacks of glitter explosions at home, don’t worry—Hershey Gardens has kindly set up a craft station at the Education Center (and all messes stay there). It’s the perfect chance for your kids to glue, glitter, and create holiday masterpieces that you can display proudly on your fridge until mid-January. Plus, it’s all included in general admission, so your wallet gets a holiday break too.
 |
3. Visit with Santa! Dec. 14, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
This isn’t one of those “Santa’s got two hours, better hurry” situations. Just come by, grab your cocoa, and enjoy a relaxed, line-free Santa experience in the gorgeous Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory. (Bonus: actual sunlight for great photos, unlike those indoor mall Santas who look like they’re in witness protection.)
4. Storytime with Mrs. Claus: Dec. 7 and Dec. 21, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Mrs. Claus is taking a break from the North Pole to read to your little ones in her soft, grandmotherly way (no hyper-caffeinated parents here). Park the kids with Mrs. Claus, take a breather, and enjoy a cup of coffee while she regales them with holiday tales, and you’ll finally get that moment of holiday peace. It’s included in general admission, because Hershey Gardens knows you’re saving every penny for that Amazon wish list.
 |
Extra Bonus: The Butterfly Atrium Gets Dressed Up, Too!
Even the butterflies are joining in the festivities! The Butterfly Atrium is dressed up for the season, which is perfect if you need a dose of tropical warmth to combat December’s chilly winds.
Holiday Hours – Plan Ahead, Moms!
For those brave enough to venture out on Christmas Eve or any other close-call holiday, the Gardens have special hours:
- Thanksgiving Day – Closed (because even Hershey Gardens staff need to take a nap).
- Christmas Eve – Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., perfect for squeezing in some last-minute holiday magic before the Big Guy arrives.
- Christmas Day – Closed, obviously, but rest assured, the trees and magic will still be there on the 26th.
So grab the kids, grandma, the neighbor’s kids (why not?), and your favorite travel coffee mug, and head to Hershey Gardens to experience holiday joy without the stress! For a complete listing of events, visit HersheyGardens.org. You’ve done enough, Mom. Let Hershey Gardens take the reins (and the glitter cleanup).
🎄 Love family-friendly events and sanity-saving parenting hacks? Don’t miss out on the holiday cheer and more—subscribe to our newsletter for the best local happenings in Harrisburg & West Shore, Hershey to Elizabethtown, or Carlisle through Shippensburg! 🎉
We’ve got everything from holiday festivals to parenting tips (because let's face it, we could all use a few tips for surviving the season). And don’t forget to follow us on social media for daily updates, laughs, and maybe a meme or two to make you feel better about sneaking those stocking-stuffers early. 🍫🎅🙈
Harrisburg & West Shore,
Hershey to Elizabethtown, or
Carlisle through Shippensburg
Speaking of survival tips, join our Facebook Group, Macaroni Village of South Central PA, a collaboration across all three regions where we swap stories, share holiday hacks, and collectively try to figure out how to make bedtime happen before Santa’s sleigh rolls in. It’s a Christmas miracle waiting to happen! 🎄💬
Disclaimer: While the ideas and the bulk of the brilliance are all mine, I confess that I enlisted the help of ChatGPT for minor edits and revisions. Why? Because AI is the friendliest grammarian I know—no red pen, no judgment, just pure, unadulterated love for a well-placed comma. So if you find any rogue semicolons or unnaturally perfect phrasing, you can thank my digital editor for that.
