Chocolate Ave. Chatter

More Halloween Fun

Two more weekends of Halloween in Hershey fun remain. Visit the park at night and enjoy the chilled rush of air as you ride the coasters or other rides. Click here for details on all of the rides open during Hersheypark in the Dark.

While the weather is perfect for jeans and sweatshirts, it’s a great time to get to Hershey Gardens for their autumn events as well.

This Friday, Oct. 22, and next, Oct. 29, bring the kids and your flashlights for “Pumpkin Glow,” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and explore the carved, glowing pumpkins on the path. Kids in costume can collect “treats” along the way. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for ages 3-12, and children under age 3 are free.

We also have some awesome autumn specials going on at Phillip Arthur’s right now through the end of the year!

On Mondays and Tuesdays, get any large sub for just $5. On Wednesday, with every purchase of pizza or subs over $5, get a free scoop of ice cream.

The Thursday special is two slices of pizza and a 20 oz. Coke for just $5.

Every Friday, 10 percent of sales will go to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

And finally, on Sundays, get two large pies and a 2-Liter Coke for just $14.99!

ChocolateTown goes Blue

Next week, the Blue Man Group makes a stop in Hershey during its first ever U.S. theatrical tour.

First introduced to many via the attention-grabbing commercials for Intel Pentium and Centrino processors, the three-man aqua-hued performance group combine comedy, music and technology to produce a one-of-a-kind experience for audiences. The Blue Man Group never speaks, but communicates by acting, music and using technology and instruments to create live art.

The Blue Man Group is at Hershey Theatre Oct. 19-24. Tuesday through Thursday, showtime is 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $25-$70 and are available at the Hershey Theatre Box Office or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Don’t forget - Fenicci’s is open late after every Hershey Theatre performance! Stop in for a cocktail and a snack after the show.

A spooky good time

It’s Halloween time in Hershey. While many tourists may think that we roll up the sidewalks after Labor Day, the truth is – the good times continue throughout the year, including the crisp season of fall.

You can find Hershey’s Halloween headquarters at Hershey’s Chocolate World starting this Friday and through the end of the month, where you can stock up on all your Halloween candy and chocolate needs. Don’t forget to check the bakery for some delicious sweet treats for you, as well. Next weekend, Chocolate World is the starting place for Hershey's Trick-Or-Treat Adventure (for kids 12 and under only, please). From there, enter Treatville at Hersheypark for trick-or-treating delights. Hershey's Trick-Or-Treat Adventure begins Oct. 15 and runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Oct. 31. Check here for hours.

Next weekend also signals the return to the park, Hersheypark in the Dark. There’s something about riding the coasters in the cool dark night.

During this same time, take a trip over to ZooAmerica (you can enter right through the park), for Creatures of the Night, a unique opportunity for a flashlight tour to see the zoo’s animals in their nighttime habitat.

For more on these events and where to stay, visit www.HalloweeninHershey.com. 

Hershey Happenings

Despite an almost quiet end to September, the changing leaves and fall-like weather won’t slow the season in Hershey.

One of the largest antique car shows in the country, the annual Eastern Divison AACA National Fall Meet is coming around the corner, kicking off the first full week of October. Hershey has hosted this car show and flea market since 1955.

Check out more than 1,500 show cars and 9,000 flea market spaces on the grounds surrounding Hersheypark and The Giant Center. Admission is free!

As many of you know, Hershey Theatre is a good friend of ours. If you haven’t had the chance, I highly recommend their SPOTLIGHT TOUR. It runs twice a week -- 11 a.m. on Fridays and 1 p.m. on Sundays with a $7 adult admission; $5.50 for kids under 12.

The tour takes you behind the scenes at Hershey Theatre and investigates the building’s grand architecture and history. Did you know that Hershey Theatre was built as part of Milton S. Hershey’s “Great Building Campaign”? It was originally the town’s community center and through its history housed a library, a hospital and a dormitory!

Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. For groups of 20 or more, call 717-533-6299.

Homecoming in Hershey

The foray from summer to fall will be complete this weekend when our two local school districts, Hershey and Milton Hershey, both celebrate their Homecoming weekends.

Hershey High School’s Homecoming parade kicks off at 6 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 24, starting at the Derry Township School District Building and proceeding through downtown to Hersheypark Stadium for the 7 p.m. Homecoming football game against Cedar Cliff High School.

Floats from each grade, the Hershey High School Marching Band, football players, cheerleaders, the Hershey Volunteer Fire Company and the the KISSmobile will all be a part of the parade.

The Milton Hershey School’s 80th Annual Homecoming include the 7th annual Spartan Hall of Fame induction ceremony and reception on Friday at Founders Hall. From 3-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, the community can visit the School’s Horticultural Center, where students will be selling perennial plants and houseplants.

The MHS Spartan football team takes on the Camp Hill Lions on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Henry Hershey Field.