The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue

09/04/2026

Don't miss your last chance to explore a fascinating chapter in Hershey history! Labor Day is the final day to explore our special exhibit, "From Hershey Industrial School to Hershey CEO: The Story of Bill Dearden." Dearden, a graduate of Hershey Industrial School (now Milton Hershey School), went on to become CEO of The Hershey Company. Discover how his willingness to take risks helped move the company beyond its conservative business model and embrace the power of mass media. And you'll get to see some of Herhsey's most iconic commercials from the 70s and 80s!

09/03/2026

Join us on Sunday, September 13, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Chocolate Town Square Park for Milton Hershey’s birthday celebration! In 1939, Milton Hershey held his last community-wide celebration for his 82nd birthday. He invited Hershey homeowners to Hershey Sports Arena for the event, where guests enjoyed a farm-to-table meal, in which everything but the olives, coffee, salt and pepper, came from food grown or raised on Hershey farms. Image of invitation courtesy of Hershey Community Archives.

09/03/2026

You're invited to Milton Hershey's Birthday Celebration! Join us on Sunday, September 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Chocolate Town Square Park, 48 W. Chocolate Ave., in downtown Hershey as we honor our founder. Details in this story.

The community is invited to a grand celebration in downtown Hershey on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. to commemorate Milton Hershey's 169th birthday.

09/03/2026

08/27/2026

Join us on Sunday, September 13, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Chocolate Town Square Park for Milton Hershey’s birthday celebration! Flashback to 1938, when Mr. Hershey celebrated his 81st birthday, inviting the whole town to Hershey Sports Arena. The festivities included vaudeville acts and student performances! Archival footage courtesy of Hershey Community Archives.

08/25/2026

08/20/2026

Join us on Sunday, September 13, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Chocolate Town Square Park for Milton Hershey’s birthday celebration! In 1937, Mr. Hershey’s employees invited him to a birthday party in his honor. More than 6,000 employees and their families gathered at Hershey Sports Arena to celebrate his turning 80! In addition to a 3-foot tall cake lit with 80 electric candles, employees presented Mr. Hershey with a beautiful gold and diamond ring featuring the Baby in the Cocoa Pod, Hershey’s trademark at that time. (Photo of Milton Hershey cutting a birthday cake courtesy of Milton Hershey School.)

08/17/2026

We are starting a new series here at HCA, where we take a snapshot of life in Hershey through our historic newspapers in the past!

Any Pittsburgh Steelers fans out there? The August 17, 1946 edition of Hotel Hershey Highlights announced an upcoming Pittsburgh Steelers exhibition game at Hershey Stadium. Other articles include announcements about performances at Hershey Park Ballroom, the Tenth Annual Baby Parade, and a committee to welcome home servicemen returning from WWII.

Take a look and relive life in Hershey 80 years ago!

08/13/2026

Join us on Sunday, September 13, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for Milton Hershey’s birthday celebration! Enjoy live music by students from Milton Hershey School and Hershey High School, kids’ games, food trucks (additional cost), face painting, cupcakes - - and Hershey’s chocolate, of course! Come celebrate with us as we honor the birthday of our founder.

08/10/2026

Happy National S'mores Day! Celebrate by trying one of these vintage recipes from 1986, courtesy of Hershey Community Archives.