Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend 2024 in Hershey

October weekends in Hershey, Pa., are bustling with festive events and sweet happenings. The second weekend, Oct. 11-14, is no different. In fact, Indigenous Peoples' Day Weekend marks a long weekend in The Sweetest Place On Earth, so there is extra time for many visitors to experience all that the town built on chocolate has to offer in the fall. 

 Check out this guide of things to do over the long weekend in Hershey, Pa.

Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights

Friday, October 11, from 5-10 p.m., Saturday, October 12, from 12-10 p.m. and Sunday, October 13, from 12-9 p.m. Dark Nights begins each night at 6 p.m. and extends one hour after the Park closes - Fridays and Saturdays until 11 p.m. and Sundays until 10 p.m.

Hersheypark is open Friday through Sunday for Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights immersive haunt experience. This seasonal event features family-friendly offerings during the day and frights at night - all included in the one-price admission. Guests can enjoy thrills on 50 rides and attractions (weather permitting), lights-out rides on select coasters during the last hour of Hersheypark Halloween operation, trick-or-treating along the Hershey's Trick Or Treat Trail for children 12 and under, a Monster Ball with the Hershey Characters, wicked-fun entertainment and exclusive food along the new Avenue of the Afterlife, five haunted houses, three scare zones, and more. 

Check out our Family-Friendly Guide to Hersheypark Halloweenand the Haunt Guide to Dark Nights for tips and tricks.

Creatures Of The Night at ZooAmerica 

ZooAmerica is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Creatures Of The Night offered from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is open daily over the long holiday weekend to explore the wild of North America.  It's also the first weekend of the popular Creatures Of The Night event. The Halloween-themed after-hours experience from 6-9 p.m. is the only time of year the Zoo is open after dark to observe the nighttime habits of the nocturnal North American animals. Visitors are encouraged to bring flashlights to see black bears, Canada lynx, gray wolves, river otters and more during a walk around the 11-acre zoo in the heart of Hershey.

Creatures Of The Night is included with admission to ZooAmerica, as well as Hersheypark Halloween only when accessing the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark. Separate admission, starting at $14.50 plus taxes and fees, is also available online or at the ZooAmerica admissions building for guests who plan to attend just Creatures Of The Night. 

Spirit's Rooftop Bar at The Chocolatier

Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12 from 4:30-11 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 13 from 4:30-10 p.m.

Guests who dare to explore Spirit’s Rooftop BaratThe Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patiocan order new items from a delicious limited-time menu while enjoying haunted rooftop vibes. Reservations are not accepted.

Dane Cook: Fresh New Flavor at Hershey Theatre

Friday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Cook is known for his legendary stand-up comedy specials, unparalleled stage presence and outrageous observational humor. Having had his catalog of content streamed over a billion times worldwide, Cook is in a league of his own. He has released a number of record-breaking comedy specials, including “Vicious Circle,” “Isolated Incident,” “Harmful if Swallowed,” “Retaliation,” “Tourgasm,” and “Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden.” In addition to stand-up comedy, he is known for his various acting roles in movies such as “Mr. Brooks,” ”My Best Friend’s Girl,” ”Dan in Real Life,” ”Employee of the Month,” ”Good Luck Chuck,” ”Waiting…” and more.

Hershey Bears vs. Cleveland Monsters

Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m.

Join Bear Nation at GIANT Center for the return of Hershey Bears hockey as the back-to-back Calder Cup Champions take the ice for their home opener on Oct. 12 and a second home game on Oct. 13. Cheer on the most decorated hockey team currently in the AHL as they go for a three-peat. Single tickets to all Hershey Bears games start at $16 when purchased online.  

Nikki Glaser at Hershey Theatre

Saturday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.Sunday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

Comedian Nikki Glaser will visit Hershey Theatre for two performances on her “Alive and Unwell Tour" over the long weekend. For nearly two decades, Nikki Glaser has honed her shockingly honest, no-holds-barred style of comedy, solidifying herself as one of the funniest voices in comedy today. Glaser is the host of iHeartMedia’s “The Nikki Glaser Podcast,” where she provides a fun and brutally honest look into pop culture and her own personal life in weekly episodes. Glaser has multiple stand-up specials and late-night TV appearances in which she jokes about her most humiliating moments as a woman in the modern world — becoming a complete open book on mic for the laughs and the empowering voice for women that she yearned for as a confused adolescent.

Spa Treatments at Meltspa by Hershey

Select availability on Friday, Oct. 11, through Monday, Oct. 14

The long weekend offers a sweet opportunity for a reprieve at the spa. MeltSpa by Hershey day spa in downtown Hershey has facial and/or massage availability on Friday, Oct.11, Sunday, Oct. 13, and Monday, Oct. 14. To make an appointment, call 855-500-2366 or visit Meltspa.com. 

Extend Your Stay at the Official Resorts of Hersheypark

Friday, Oct.11, through Monday, Oct. 14

Guests can turn their visit into a weekend getaway at one of the Official Resorts of Hersheypark. Throughout the long weekend at The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge, guests can enjoy seasonal dining on property, splashes at the heated indoor pool complexes, and family-friendly resort activities, like s'mores roasts, chocolate bingo, Hershey Character appearances and Halloween-themed fun. Or, head to Hersheypark Camping Resort for a sweet camping trip and activities like Kids' Check-In, face painting, fall crafts, s'mores roasts and more. 

Plus, save with Halloween packages like the Dark Nights 2-Night Package, which includes two nights of deluxe accommodations, 2-day Hersheypark Halloween tickets, breakfast each day, a Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass and Dark Nights Houses Fast Track unlimited for each guest. Resort guests also receive FREE Resort Benefits, including extra hours at Hersheypark with Preview Plan and free front-gate shuttle service to and from the Park.