Hersheypark held the first Christmas Candylane event in 1983. The event was initially called Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane (simplified to the current name in 1986). It was mostly located in Tram Circle and Tudor Square, with one ride located right inside the main gate in Rhineland.
Severe cold weather and ice forced Hersheypark to close on several days during the 1983 Candylane event, making it a rough go for the park. This caused attendance to be lower than expected. Despite this, public response to the event was positive. There were a couple of days with rather high attendance – this proved the need to incorporate Carrousel Circle the following year.
Once expanded in 1984, the Candylane event took off and has continued in every season since.
Creating a Christmas event
In 1982 and 1983, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (HE&R) management did studies to find out how they could bring more people to Hershey. Coming out of the results of the study, two people pursued opening the park in November and December for Christmas. These people were Ken Hatt, president of HE&R, and Lynn Knockel, merchandise manager. Park Assistant General Manager Jack Silar was also in favor of the event.
The initial idea for the event was that it would be a retail-oriented event focused on Tudor Square. They would have a few rides, whether rented or relocated from inside the park, and then allow vendors to operate during the event as well.
This came to fruition when Hersheypark’s first Christmas Candylane was announced on October 14, 1983.
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The first Christmas Candylane
Hersheypark announced its first Christmas celebration, which included animated Christmas characters, carolers, ice carvings, and 25,000 Christmas lights.
The Outdoor Skating Rink would also be open during the event. They did not mention the four rides at the event or that reindeer would be another attraction at Candylane. The first advertisement for the event featured carolers.
Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane opened on November 25, 1983, the day after Thanksgiving, and ran through January 1, 1984. The event was located in Tram Circle, Tudor Square, and the area just inside the main gate in Rhineland. The open shops included Kid’s Christmas Shop, Candylane Sweets & Stuff, and Santa’s Candy Warehouse. Tudor Rose Tavern held an Olde English Christmas Buffet every Wednesday evening during the Candylane season.
This event featured a Gumball Mound, Lemonade Lake, Taffy Tunnel and Popcorn Pass in Tram Circle. There was a Candy Cane Lane leading through the Ribbon Candy Rapids and Sugar Sprinkle Swamp at the top of Tudor Square. Candy Cane Lane ended at Tudor Gifts gift shop. Inside lower Rhineland was Candy Cane Circle, where the event ended at. There was also a Lollipop Pathway that went behind Tudor Square back to Tram Circle.
The four rides at the first Christmas Candylane
The four rides which operated during Christmas Candylane were Dizzy Drums, Little Wheel, Livery Stables, and Miniature Train. The park relocated two rides -Livery Stables and Dizzy Drums – from inside the park and rented two for the event – Little Wheel and Miniature Train.
Attendance for this pay-per-ride ticketed event largely depended on the ride capacities of Dizzy Drums, Livery Stables, and Little Wheel, as well as Miniature Train ticket sales.
The most popular ride at the event was the Miniature Train, followed by Dizzy Drums, then Little Wheel, and Livery Stables. 33% of riders rode Miniature Train while 21% rode Livery Stables. Livery Stables’ low attendance may be the result of the ride breaking down on Friday, December 16 and Saturday, December 17, and not operating on Sunday, December 18.
Inclement weather impacted Candylane on nine different days, causing ride closures or a complete park shutdown. The busiest weekend for Candylane was the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 26-27. Saturday was the only day that ride capacity broke 2000 for the day. Saturday, December 10 nearly hit 2000 – the total capacity was 1936 riders.
On all four rides, there were a total of 15,969 riders throughout all of Candylane.
Reindeer
This event also featured the first display of reindeer at Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane. The park converted the Main Gate into stalls for the reindeer. Hersheypark brought the reindeer back and placed them in the Main Gate through the 1986 Candylane. Because event attendance increased, the park needed the Main Gate for guest entry. The park lacked a suitable location for the reindeer, so it did not bring them back in 1987.
The reindeer did not return until the 1997 Candylane event when the park expanded the event into Pioneer Frontier.
Special Events at the First Christmas Candylane
Hersheypark held three special events during Christmas Candylane in 1983. They were all held in Tudor Rose Tavern.
Breakfast with Santa
Tudor Rose Tavern hosted the first Breakfast With Santa on Saturday, December 10 and Saturday, December 17. There were two seatings, one at 9 am and one at 10:20 am. The cost was $4.00 a person and it included pancakes, sausage, bacon, hot chocolate, orange juice, coffee, and a free gift from Santa Claus.
Old English Christmas Buffet
The Olde English Christmas Buffet at Candylane occurred on December 7, December 14, December 21, and December 28. The cost was $8.95 per person and included an assorted cheese board, peel-and-eat shrimp, fresh meat salads, steamship round of beef, Virginia Ham, roast turkey, and desserts.
Wassail Bowl Mid-Day Fare
The Wassail Bowl Mid-Day Fare banquet occurred on December 24, December 31, and January 1. The event likely included pastries, tea sandwiches, fresh fruit and cheese trays, and was around 4 dollars per person. The actual listing for the 1983 event is not available.
Candylane was a success
The event’s success led to its return and expansion in 1984. When Candylane opened the following season, the event included a few rides in Carrousel Circle. Hersheypark did not bring back The Little Wheel after the 1983 Candylane season.
As Jack Silar [tooltips keyword=”said” content=”Oral History interview with Jack Silar, 2/11/2009. 2009OH04. Hershey Community Archives Oral History Collection, Hershey, PA.”]:
[Christmas Candylane] was a good find. That’s a keeper.
And that they did. Candylane has returned for every season since.
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I was there the second year Candylane operated in 1984. I remember my mom sitting in one of the chariots on the carrousel while the rest of us rode the horses around and near it. I also got very excited when I saw the Miniature Railroad as I rode that ride when I was a kid in the 50’s. Been back almost every year since. Memmories pressed between the pages of my mind. Thanks!!!
This was so fun to read! I was an attendant for Santa photos at the first Candylane. It was such a wonderful experience.
People came to see the lights… the rides were secondary. it was very relaxed and there was just an overall feeling of HAPPY. There were only a few of us that worked there… we had such a good time.
I can’t believe it’s been almost 40 years!