Hershey’s Chocolate World is celebrating 50 years of sweetness

HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) – Hershey’s Chocolate World plans to celebrate 50 years of candy fun in 2023.

The complex opened in June 1973 after Hershey factory tours had become so popular that demand warranted a visitor center. According to Hershey, the last public factory tour was on June 29, 1973, with Chocolate World opening the next day.

By 1974, two million people had visited the center.

50 years later, the visitor center has been expanded to include several chocolate attractions. Now Chocolate World is hosting some special events to celebrate the occasion.

On February 4, the 50th Anniversary Center unveiled a Chocolate World-inspired chocolate sculpture created by Pennsylvania-based food artists Jim Victor and Mary Pelton. The unveiling took place at 1:30 p.m. and will be on view through October.

On weekends throughout February, guests can participate in a parade from the dining hall to the lobby and back again, singing and dancing with Hershey’s characters and the band. The event takes place every Saturday and Sunday in February and starts at 1:30 p.m

Then on June 30th there will be a celebration to re-dedicate Chocolate World and performances from the band Bean to Bar and Hershey Characters, plus a few more planned surprises. This event starts at 8:30 am

Hershey’s Chocolate World has also announced a new family attraction, but no information about it has been released yet.

There are also 50th anniversary branded items available for purchase at the centre.

Hershey’s Chocolate World has multiple locations around the world including Times Square, Las Vegas, Niagara Falls and Singapore. But the original center is in Hershey.