HERSHEY'S Holiday Chocolate Houses Through the Years

At HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD Attraction, traditions are made of HERSHEY’S KISSES bricks, KIT KAT® shingles, and rainbow-colored JOLLY RANCHER windows. These candies are lovingly placed to form the annual HERSHEY’S Holiday Chocolate House, a festive masterpiece adored by guests and employees alike.

This year, during our 50th anniversary, we built our biggest house yet - a replica of HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD itself. But we also celebrate 15 years that these beloved works of art have awed guests! Over the years, we’ve built chalets and tudors, historic Milton Hershey icons and Santa workshops. We’ve wrapped front porch posts, meticulously laid tile floors, even melted candy stained glass. Each and every sweet building material a Hershey’s ingredient, right down to the icing “caulk” delivered from our Bakery.

Each holiday season, we welcome employees from across The Hershey Company to volunteer throughout the 2-3 week decorating phase. The process, however, begins months before, when we choose a design and build the frame. In recent years, we’ve worked with the architecture and carpentry classes at Milton Hershey School, who impart their own suggestions for a unique structure. Then, the Chocolate World team chooses the candies to bring the design to life.

The time spent building the house is not only a fun mission, but more importantly, a worthy cause. For every hour that is volunteered, HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD makes a donation to Children's Miracle Network (CMN) to save and improve the lives of hospitalized children. Guests may also donate to CMN through the “Candy Canes for Kids” program and write their name on a candy cane that will be placed around the house. 

The masterpiece also provides a great backdrop for photos with Santa, who we welcome each year. We also know you like to snap your own memories around the house. Be sure to share them using #chocolateworld!