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Media Advisories & Releases
Tuesday, November 13, 2024
Hershey New Year’s Eve Finalizes Plans for
20th Anniversary Celebration
Ring in 2025 with Family-Friendly Entertainment, Music and Laser
and Pyrotechnics Display
(Hershey, Pa. - November 13, 2024) – Hershey New Year’s Eve celebrates its 20th anniversary with a jam-packed celebration for all to enjoy on December 31, 2024. Held in the heart of downtown Hershey, Pa., the event will feature kid-friendly entertainment, main stage music and a laser and pyrotechnics display once the clock strikes midnight.
Families can look forward to New Year’s countdowns and bubble wrap stomps at The Hershey Story throughout the day, beginning at 11 a.m. The formal evening kicks off with a family hour from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. for younger guests who may not make it until midnight, featuring children’s musician Holly Serio, face painting, vendors and more. At 8:30 p.m., the HERSHEY Characters join for the final bubble wrap stomp and a dance party.
Music performers take the main stage beginning at 9 p.m. Headlining this year’s event is Pennsylvania quartet and TikTok sensation Burn the Jukebox, performing crowd-pleasing pop and rock hits spanning over five decades along with their original alt-rock songs. Garnering millions of social media followers, more than 1 million streams, and packing shows nationwide, the group recently embarked on their first headlining national tour, including opening for rock icons The Struts in Harrisburg, Pa., in October 2024. Opening for Burn the Jukebox is the five-person cover band Fully Stocked, pumping out energy and fun with rock and pop songs from the 1970s to today. To round out the evening, at 11:59 p.m., MC Denny Logan (WNNK 104.1) and the HERSHEY Characters will count down to the HERSHEY’S KISS raise.
“We are proud to welcome guests back to Hershey for our New Year’s Eve celebration as it commemorates a milestone of 20 years since the event began in 2004,” said Mike Pries, Committee Chair for Hershey New Year’s Eve. “We have watched this event grow and expand each year, and can’t wait for our community to enjoy all of the family-friendly activities, live music, and laser and pyrotechnics displays we have planned for this year’s event.”
Hershey New Year’s Eve is a free, family-friendly event planned and staffed by community volunteers and fully funded by its generous sponsors, including Platinum-level sponsors Capital Blue Cross, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, The Hershey Company and UPMC.
For more information, please visit the event website at HersheyNewYearsEve.org or its Facebook page. Additional details will also be shared via the event’s media sponsors, WINK 104 and HOT 106.7
Digital Images & Video
The following images are available for the media to use. Each photo links to the Google Drive file you can download. Please credit the Hershey New Year’s Eve Committee.
The HERSHEY'S Bar joins the test kiss raise (2013).
The committee tests the kiss raise for the 2022 celebration.
The HERSHEY’s Kiss replica awaits the test kiss raise (2022).
VIDEO: 2023 test kiss raise
Performers lead the crowd in a dance party at The Hershey Story (2022).
Daddy O and the Sax Maniacs perform (2022).
The crowd celebrates (2012).
The HERSHEY's Kiss awaits its big moment (2022).
The HERSHEY's Kiss is raised (2022).
The HERSHEY'S characters celebrate the first-ever laser and pyrotechnics show (2022).
The countdown clock at midnight, ringing in 2023.
This throwback features the iconic HERSHEY's Kiss raise and fireworks (2013).
The HERSHEY's Kiss is raised (2019).