Dark Nights is now open at Hersheypark, and for the first time ever…the park has gone dark.
I visited during opening weekend, and while this may be the first year, you wouldn’t know it.. Offering 4 houses, 3 scare zones, themed food and beverages as well as merchandise, the team took Hersheypark Halloween to the next level with storytelling and effects.
Dark Nights Hersheypark
Dark Nights is open on weekends from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. through October 30, 2022. To experience this event you will need to purchase an add-on ticket along with your regular park ticket, or a bundle ticket. There are a few options available for tickets.
When you purchase your tickets online you will be given a confirmation QR code, simply scan this in park at the HPGO stations and get your wristband for the houses. There are stations all over the park, you can also purchase tickets as well.
Dark Nights Ticket Options
Dark Nights Add-On – starting at $24.95 per person. Add on the houses and scare zones to your park ticket.
Dark Nights Fast Track– starting at $14.95 per person. Add this front of the line option to your ticket. Get to the fear faster!
Dark Nights Ultimate Fear– $128.95 per person. Includes Hersheypark admission, Dark Nights admission, and fast track.
Dark Nights Anytime Terror- $89.90 per person. Includes Hersheypark general admission, as well as Dark Nights admission.
Friday Night Frights-$49.50 per person. Includes Hersheypark admission and Dark Nights admission for Friday only.
Sunday Night Scares– $64.95 per person. Includes Hersheypark admission and Dark Nights admission for Sunday only.
Passholder All Season Add-On– $99.00 per person to access all houses all season.
Passholder Daily Add-On– Starting at $19.95 per person, you can add this in your passholder account.
Dark Nights Scare Zones
This year there are 3 scare zones during Dark Nights. If you aren’t familiar with scare zones, they are areas that all park guests can access, even without the HPGO wristbands. If you have little ones, you may want to bypass these areas all together, they are clearly marked on park maps.
Sweet Tip: Don’t want to be scared? You can buy blinking bat necklaces that ward off the scares.
Darkstones Hollow – Mythical Creatures are among the fog, but don’t be too scared- it’s just Great Bear roaring over the haunted walkways in The Hollow.
Valley of Fear– When you find yourself along Spring Creek beware of what may be lurking in the shadows. If you are familiar with the park, then you know this particular area has lots of hidden spots. It’s the perfect location for some good scares!
Midway of Misery– Head into the Midway and come face to face with some not so gleeful clowns as they wrangle a three ring circus of escapades from beyond the fog.
Dark Nights Haunted Houses
Twisted Darkness- Head into a mind bending carnival of nightmares. Each turn is a surprise and just when you think you are out of the madness, it comes back for you.
This house was great- the effects and detail were top notch. It was only night two and our “scare squad” got some serious jump scares. I think this house will get a lot stronger as the scareactors really find their groove.
Creature Chaos– Professor Darkstone has a few, let’s say rabid creatures that he seems to have misplaced. Don’t take your head off a swivel for one minute, because they are everywhere. This indoor/outdoor house is dark and disorienting once the sun goes down and the fog lays thick.
The Descent– What lurks under Hersheypark at night? Head down the tunnels and find out –but don’t look back. She’s always watching!
Great house with amazing effects and scareactors putting 110% out!
Haunted Coal Mine – The miners have grown restless and they want to be among the living again. Head deep down into the mine and see if you can get back to Spring Creek in one piece.
This was the clear winner for me of the night, the effects were superb from how we got to the mine, and weaved our way back to the creek.
The houses are all strong with great storylines. I applaud the parks team for not making it about blood/gore but more about the fear of what’s around the next corner. If you want to introduce younger kids to haunted attractions, this is a great starting point.
Sweet Tip: Start with The Decent and Twisted Darkness, then once the sun goes down finish up with Haunted Coal Mine and Creature Chaos.
Dark Nights Haunted House Accessibility
An Accessibility Program is available for Dark Nights as detailed here. Guests utilizing an electric mobility device must transfer to a manual wheelchair (provided by the Park prior to entering the queue line) for the following Dark Nights attractions: Haunted Coal Mine, The Descent and Twisted Darkness.
Guests using the designated accessible entrances for the Dark Nights haunted house attractions will need to show the attendant their Boarding Pass. The guest will be provided the Dark Nights Accessibility Information and Reservation Tracker and receive an assigned Reservation time for the attraction that corresponds to the current wait time of the standard entrance/queue line at the attraction. Guests may only obtain one Reservation at a time.
Dark Nights Food & Beverages
Hersheypark took it to another level with theming for this event, they added many options only available in park when Dark Nights is open. Again, you would never know this was their first year- as they really put a lot of detail and thought into executing this event.
Cocktails
Did somebody say cocktails? Yup- Hersheypark is serving up specialty cocktails during Dark Nights. There are 3 signature cocktails, all served in a light up cup.
DARK NIGHTS INFERNO
- Cranberry and Fireball will warm you right up! I enjoyed this one, and I am not usually a big whiskey drinker.
Blue Beast
- A refreshing blend of Blue Raspberry Lemonade and malted spirit soothes the savage beast within.
ROTTEN APPLE
- This green glowing cocktail mixes tart Sour Apple and malted spirit for a potent antidote against whatever may take hold.
Sweet and Savory Bites
Crab and Corn Fritter– Available at Darkstone’s Base Camp in The Hollow this savory treat was fantastic!
Pulled Pork on Black Brioche Bun – I’ve said it many times, the Spring Creek Smokehouse is one of the best food options in the park- and I still stand by that. I tried the Pulled Pork and it was tender and flavorful.
TOXIC MAC & CHEESE– Available at Berk’s Dogs of Doom, this has a little buffalo kick, with a frito topping. It was really good.
The Descent Dog– Available at Berk’s Dogs of Doom. Jalapeno cheese dog topped with toxic mac & cheese, buffalo sauce and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
Flamin Cheetos Hot Honey Corn Dogs – Available at Berk’s Dogs of Doom.
Terror Tots– Available at Darkstone’s Base Camp in The Hollow. Garlic-parm tossed Tater Tots topped with pepperoni, marinara and melty mozzarella.
Brimstone Bread– Available at Trailblazer Grill. These ooey, gooey melted cheese buns are perfect for dipping in marinara sauce.
Roadkill Fries– Available at Trailblazer Grill. Fresh cut fries with pot roast, gravy and mozzarella cheese.
Sinful Cinnamon Bread- Available at Spring Creek Smokehouse. Indulge in a serving of cinnamon bread decked out in a blood-red sugar glaze. This was right up my alley, the glaze wasn’t too heavy and the bread was perfect.
Halloween King Size Donut – Available at Cookies & Donuts. King Size vanilla donut with white vanilla icing topped with colored icing as red veins, a green iris and black pupil.
Brain Freeze Sundae– Available at Turkey Hill Ice Scream Parlor. A glowing skull souvenir mug absorbs this sinful dessert, vanilla ice cream drizzled with red raspberry sauce over Milton’s house-made black colored, blood orange-flavored sorbet topped with a brain meringue for those with a truly sick sweet tooth.
Twisted Churro– Available at Turkey Hill Ice Scream Parlor. hauntingly good cinnamon sugar fried churros will bend your mind. The sweet caramel sauce topping will twist your tastebuds.
Eyeball Chocolate Cake Pop– Available at Turkey Hill Ice Scream Parlor. Spiked with a fork, this deliciously creepy cake pop will be staring right back at you. This fudge filled cake pop was a sweet treat after a spooky night!
Dark Moon Orange Sorbet- House-made Blood Orange Black Sorbet in a black vanilla specialty waffle cone dipped in white chocolate and red sugar, and topped with house-made raspberry sauce. Available at Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor.
King Shakes – it wouldn’t be Hersheypark without an over the top candy shake!
- Ghostly King Size Shake
- Monster King Size Shake
- Pumpkin King Size Shake
- Reese’s King Size Shake
Dark Nights Merchandise
Don’t forget to grab a hoodie or spirit jersey commemorating the first time haunts have been at Hersheypark. The Bootique is across from Fahrenheit and carries Classic Monster merchandise as well as Dark Nights items. The Dark Nights Emporium carries all of the specialty event items.
Dark Nights is a very welcome addition to Hersheypark Halloween. Everything we have come to know about Halloween in Hersheypark is still there, including 50 rides, lights-out coaster rides, trick-or-treating , a Character Glow Dance Party and more. Dark Nights adds an element for older kids (such as mine) to really get into the spooky season at Hersheypark!
The four-acre expansion of Dark Nights represents the largest investment in a seasonal event to date- and they have done a great job executing it! Will you go into the fog at Dark Nights?