It may be prime hibernation time — no matter what Punxsutawney Phil says — but rather than go stir crazy, venture out to Hershey, the town built on chocolate, to check out their month-long celebration of sweetness. From chocolate-covered couples' adventures to hands-on children’s discovery programs, there are more than enough reasons to grab hold of this sugar high.
Big Events: Dust off the tuxedo and put on your favorite cocktail dress for these events.
• Keystone Human Services’ Crystal Ball January 31; 6 p.m. to midnight The Hershey Lodge Chocolate Ballroom Tickets: $125 and up Reserve by calling 717-232-7509. www.keystonehumanservices.org/events/chocolateball
This year’s black-tie event, formerly the Chocolate Ball, will feature silent and live auctions, live music and dancing. An early VIP reception includes a wine tasting from local vineyards, hors d’oeuvres, and music. The celebration benefits Keystone Human Services.
• Chocolate Dinner Extraordinaire February 6; 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner The Hotel Hershey Tickets: $94.50 per person; add wine pairing for $54 per person Call 717-534-8800 to reserve.
The Chocolate Dinner Extraordinaire is the official kickoff to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Co.’s Chocolate-Covered February celebration. This impressive five-course dinner infuses chocolate into every dish, both savory and sweet. Act quickly to score tickets to this grand event.
Date Night: Many of these events are recommended for couples, and they’re a great way to spice up your Valentine’s Day date ideas, but don’t feel the need to conform. Grab a girlfriend or best bro and enjoy these any way you like.
• Truffles for Couples February 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, and 15; 6 to 7 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m. The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue Tickets: $37.50 per couple; $18.75 per person Register online at www.trufflesforcouplesthehers heystory.eventbrite.com
This interactive, hands-on class will teach you and yours how to hand-roll and decorate delicious, decadent truffles. During this romantic time of year, you’ll also learn about the courtship and marriage of Milton and Catherine Hershey, a love story before its time. Take home your sweet creations in a Valentine's box, along with a long-stemmed red rose.
• Wine & Chocolate Pairing Saturdays in February; 4 p.m. The Hotel Hershey $48 per person Call 717-534-8800 for reservations.
A perfect Saturday afternoon for your sweetheart or best friend. Enjoy delicious white and red wines paired with a variety of HERSHEY’S chocolates, exploring the many flavor combinations.
Pro tip: Save a little bit of each wine and chocolate to make up your own pairings along the way.
• Chocolate Martini Mixology February 6 and 27; 4 p.m. The Hershey Lodge $45 per person Call 717-534-8601 for reservations.
At this longtime favorite Chocolate-Covered February event, you’ll learn proper mixology techniques, plus you’ll learn the secrets to that signature Chocolate Martini, made best by the folks at the Hershey Lodge. A perfect prelude to the weekend; for best results, follow with dinner at The Forebay.
• Beer & Chocolate Pairing February 20; 4 p.m. The Hershey Lodge $30 per person Call 717-534-8601 for reservations.
Beer and chocolate may at first seem like an unlikely match, but the truth is these go better together than expected. You’ll enjoy a guided sampling of a variety of brews alongside favorite HERSHEY’S chocolates. Pro tip: Like the wine pairing, leave a small amount from each course to make your own chocolate and beer matches.
Girls’ Day Out: What better way to spend the day with your favorite chocolate-lover or best friend?
• Keystone Human Services’ Chocolatefest
3 sessions on February 1
The Hershey Lodge
Tickets: $25 to $50; $5 for children ages five through twelve; get an All Day Chocolatefest VIP pass for $75
Call 717-232-7509 or visit participating Boscov’s, Giant Food Stores, and Turkey Hill locations for tickets.
www.keystonehumanservices.org/events/chocolatefest
Dive into chocolate with Keystone Human Services’ annual Chocolatefest celebration. Sample chocolates created by local confectioners, restaurants and caterers, while enjoying live music or bidding in the silent auction. The cake competition is a “can’t miss,” and you can even bring the kids, as children’s activities abound. A Premiere Reception runs 10 to 11:30 a.m., Session #1 from 12 to 1:30 p.m., and Session #2 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
• Cocoa Facial Experience By appointment, daily, 75 minutes The Spa at The Hotel Hershey $170 Monday through Thursday; $180 Friday through Sunday Call 717-520-5888 for appointments.
The Spa at The Hotel Hershey is highlighting its signature, year-round offerings during Chocolate-Covered February. If you can only choose one, The Cocoa Facial Experience goes above and beyond with an edible treatment featuring a dark chocolate mask. Pro tip: Go early or stay late to enjoy The Spa’s Quiet or Silent Rooms, chocolate muffins or lunch in the Oasis (must be purchased separately). Visit www.ChocolateSpa.com for the full menu of available chocolate treatments.
• Chef Demo & Chocolate and Spirits Pairing Class February 7 and 21; 2 to 4 p.m. The Hershey Lodge $45 per person Call 717-534-8601 for reservations.
New this year: a merging of two terrific events. The event begins with a Chef Demonstration, as The Hotel Hershey’s chefs share tips and secrets to creating delicious dishes using chocolate. A small 15-minute break will be followed by a Chocolate and Spirits Pairing Class where you’ll learn about matching liquors with HERSHEY’S chocolates.
• Try It with Truffles Daily in February; 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue $10 per person; get the Museum Experience and Lab Class for $17.50.
At The Chocolate Lab at The Hershey Story, you get to make a variety of different treats. Through Chocolate-Covered February, they’ll take you back to Milton Hershey’s first business, hand-making chocolate confections. At Try It with Truffles, you’ll hand-roll dark chocolate ganache, dip it in chocolate, and customize it with your choice of toppings for the truffles of your dreams. This class is suitable for adults and families with children ages four or older.
For the Kids: Your children probably love chocolate almost as much as you do, so appease them (and treat yourself).
• Hershey's Hot Chocolate Slumber Party February 21 and 28; 5:30 p.m. The Hershey Lodge $43 per adult and one child; each additional child $20 Call 717-534-8601 for reservations.
Dress ’em in their favorite jammies for an evening enjoying hot chocolate and chocolate-flavored teas, along with a special children’s buffet filled with chocolate-infused treats. They’ll make their own special desserts dipped in warm chocolate, and the evening concludes with a special chocolate-themed bedtime story.
• Hershey's Character Breakfast February 22; 7 to 11 a.m. The Hershey Lodge, Lebbie Lebkicher's $16.95 per person Call 717-534-8601 for reservations.
Take breakfast up a notch when the HERSHEY’S Characters and the Sweetest Hersheypark Band stop by for a visit. Kids will be able to do a meet ’n’ greet with all of their favorite characters and performers.
Fun for the Whole Family:
• Hersheypark Chocolate Parade Every Saturday and Sunday in February; 2:30 p.m. HERSHEY’S Chocolate World Free
Kids can watch and dance along with the HERSHEY’S Characters and the Sweetest Hersheypark Band before heading to HERSHEY’S Chocolate World.
• HERSHEY’S Chocolate Dessert Journey Saturdays and Sundays in February HERSHEY’S Chocolate World $8.95 per person
New this year, tempt your taste buds with this special HERSHEY’s Chocolate World attraction and sample six homemade desserts at each stop along the tour.
• HERSHEY'S Chocolate Tasting Adventure Daily HERSHEY’s Chocolate World $9.95 for adults; $6.95 for children
Here’s some classwork your kids will go for: The chocolate experts at “Hershey’s University” share a fun lesson about the origins and tasting of chocolate.
• Rainforest Adventure Feb. 6, 8, 14 to 16, 21 to 22; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue $5 per person; free with Museum Experience or Chocolate Lab admission
Do you know where chocolate comes from? Trek through a rainforest, discover mysterious hieroglyphs and learn the steps of ancient chocolate making. Includes a special treat to take home.
• The Heart of Chocolate Daily in February; 2 to 2:45 p.m. The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue $10 per person; get the Museum Experience and Lab Class for $17.50.
Get hands-on in The Chocolate Lab, designing your own heart-shaped milk chocolate. Kids of all ages will enjoy selecting custom ingredients to enhance flavor and appearance, all the while learning about how chocolate is grown and processed, and how Milton Hershey developed his chocolate business.
Chocolate Quickies: Don’t have time to take it all in? Find these gems daily throughout February.
• The Cocoa Beanery
Choose from mudslide cookies, chocolate trail mix, upside down hot chocolate, frozen hot chocolate, salted caramel mocha, and red velvet latte.
• At the Food Court at HERSHEY’s Chocolate World, check out special cocoa-infused treats like the cocoa chicken sandwich, white bean chicken chili and BBQ chicken pizza. Of course, you can’t miss the dessert specials at Hershey’s Bake Shoppe and Hershey’s Cocoa & Coffee counter.