Grown Up Fun

Summer nights serve up a special reminder that adulting doesn't have to be boring. The days are brighter, the nights are warmer, the trails are calling, and the Hershey Harrisburg Region is fully loaded with experiences crafted for grown-ups who are ready to enjoy it all. We call it “Adulting Upgraded.”  In Hershey & Harrisburg, you're not just getting away.  You're getting away with style. Whether you're chasing vineyard sunsets, live music, a walkable arts district, scenic hikes, or a refreshing craft pour on the riverfront, spring in this region delivers. Come for a weekend, stay for everything you didn't know you needed.

Adulting Upgraded. Summer in the Hershey Harrisburg Region is your permission slip to play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to plan the perfect grown-up spring getaway to Hershey & Harrisburg, PA.

From riverside baseball games and a walkable arts district to boutique winery patios, live music under open skies, and scenic trails coming back to life — spring in the Hershey Harrisburg Region is made for adults who are ready to play. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend, a friend group getaway, or a solo adventure, there’s a perfect mix waiting for you.

The region is overflowing with romantic options. Stroll hand-in-hand through the blooming tulip beds at Hershey Gardens, then treat yourselves to dinner and cocktails on Chocolate Avenue. In Harrisburg, explore the Arts District’s galleries and murals before catching a live performance. Cap the evening at the Harrisburg Beach Club on City Island with skyline views and craft sips. Every season is sweeter here — but spring really does something special.

Absolutely. The region offers a full menu of group-friendly fun — craft brewery hopping along the Brew Barons Beer Trail, axe throwing at Stumpy’s Hatchet House, vineyard tours with live music on the patio, disc golf, and biking adventures on trails that finally feel like spring again. Whether your crew is into culture, craft beer, the outdoors, or all three, you’ll leave wishing you’d booked an extra night.

Head to Chocolate Avenue and discover a walkable stretch of local restaurants, craft spirits, boutique shops, and sweet history. Visit Hershey Gardens — 23 acres of botanical beauty at their most vibrant in spring. Explore the Hershey Story Museum, sip craft cocktails at Hidden Still Spirits, and check out Music on Chocolate (Second Saturdays, June through September). There is far more to discover in Hershey than most visitors expect.

Spring is prime time to get outside here. Our region offers everything from challenging ridge-top hikes on the Appalachian Trail to scenic bike paths winding through river valleys. Disc golf is another local favorite that is growing fast — and spring conditions make it especially satisfying. For a more laid-back outdoor experience, vineyard patios are opening up and the concert series season is just getting started. Shake off the winter your way.

We’ve got you covered. Our Local Tips page features recommendations directly from the people who live, work, and play in the Hershey Harrisburg Region every day — from a brewery owner and a Hershey Gardens director to a chamber CEO and a local artist. Their insights will point you toward hidden gems and experiences you won’t find in a standard travel guide.

Harrisburg Nightlife & Hollywood Casino

Settling the dinner tab doesn’t signal the end of the evening in the Hershey Harrisburg Region – we’re just getting started! Live music, good friends, and cool cocktails fill cool spots in and around downtown Harrisburg. Laid back vibes? Got ‘em. Touring indie bands? Got those too. Memories from a great night on the town? Consider them made! For a night that wraps all the fun into one location, you roll the dice on a night at Hollywood Casino. Enjoy food, music, racing, and hopefully some good luck! Make it a date night or get together with friends. We’ll see you out on the town!

Live Music & Vineyards

The sounds of summer are all around us from our favorite tunes to the sound of a crisp craft cocktail being poured to perfection. The Hershey Harrisburg Region sets the perfect summer scene for concert lovers and wine enthusiasts alike. From intimate acoustic sets at winery events to stadium-scale shows at Hersheypark Stadium and the Giant Center, our region has a venue and a vibe for every mood. The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey kicks off its beloved Decked Out Live outdoor music series as the weather warms. Cassel Vineyards hosts Music in the Vines surrounded by retired thoroughbred racehorses grazing in the background — a setting you simply have to see to believe. Buddy Boy Winery pairs great pours with great company on any given evening. And across the region, craft breweries buzz with themed events and live entertainment the moment spring arrives. Whether you're discovering a new favorite winery, catching a big-name act, or joining a block party in Harrisburg's SoMa neighborhood, the soundtrack to your spring getaway is already playing.

25+ Things to Do on Chocolate Ave & The Hershey Gardens

You know you’re in a sweet summer destination when the street lights are shaped like HERSHEY’S Kisses! Chocolate Avenue is filled with dining, shopping, and sweet attractions. Sip craft cocktails at Hidden Still Spirits. Enjoy craft beer at YAH Brew, Iron Hill Brewery or Rotunda Brew Pub. Have dinner at Devon Seafood + Steak. Shop at local boutiques and attend community festivals that bring the whole town together. When you're ready for some fresh air and beauty, Hershey Gardens is just a short ride away. These stunning 23 acres burst with color in the summer, when the iconic Rose Garden wakes up and luscious greens tower across the gardens. Walk the themed gardens, step inside the Butterfly Atrium for a dose of tropical wonder, and breathe in the season. It's the kind of experience that slows everything down in the best possible way.

 

City Island & the Harrisburg Arts District

Two of Harrisburg's most vibrant destinations are full of activity in the summer. Start at City Island, a one-of-a-kind destination where you can catch a Harrisburg Senators baseball game, sip craft beer and cocktails at the Harrisburg Beach Club with skyline views, and watch the sun set over the Susquehanna River. Then make your way into the Harrisburg Arts District — a walkable collection of galleries, murals, theatres, and performance venues where the city's creative spirit is alive in every block. Summer brings a buzz of cultural energy that makes the Arts District one of the best places in the region to spend an evening. Whether you're discovering a mural you've never seen or catching a live music performance, this is Harrisburg at its most vibrant.

Outdoor Activities

The summer sun brings an open invitation to indulge your sense of adventure in the Hershey Harrisburg Region. Hikers will find trails for every level, from leisurely loops to challenging ridge-top routes with panoramic views that make every step worth it. Sections of the famed Appalachian Trail run through our region with unmatched views.  Cyclists can pedal through scenic parks and riverside pathways on a growing network of biking trails, while kayakers can paddle the Susquehanna or local creeks and lakes. Looking for a spot to throw? Find a variety of disc golf courses with open fairways and beautiful scenery. Come for the trail. Stay for the views. Leave already planning your next trip back.

Local Tips: Straight from the Source

Nobody knows the Hershey Harrisburg Region better than the people who live it every day. Our Local Tips page brings you curated recommendations from a hand-picked group of residents, business owners, and community leaders — a brewer who also farms turkeys and hikes the Appalachian Trail, a bakery owner who knows every corner of Midtown Harrisburg, the director behind Hershey Gardens and the Hershey Story, a Chamber CEO with a pulse on the Capital City, and more. Their suggestions go beyond the highlights reel and into the real texture of life here — the hidden spots, the don't-miss moments, and the local perspective that only comes from being truly rooted in a place. If you want to travel like a local, this is where you start.