1999 was the last year Hersheypark has opened in May. Since the year 2000, with the notable exception of 2018 and 2020, Hersheypark has opened in April each season. This was due to Hersheypark introducing a spring shoulder season called Springtime in the Park. Started as a one weekend event in April, it was eventually expanded to two weekends and later three. In 2023, Springtime in the Park was replaced by Spring Weekends, which results in the park schedule being continuous from April (or possibly March should the calendar align such) until New Years Day.
In 2018, the calendar worked out that Easter was the last weekend of March. As a result, Hersheypark opened on March 30, the earliest ever open the park has ever had.
But, two years later, in 2020, the park had its latest opening ever. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Springtime in the Park was cancelled, and the start of the summer season was postponed. Finally, on July 3, Hersheypark opened. This was the only time Hersheypark had never been operation in May or June since 1905, the year before the park opened.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2000 | April 21 |
| 2001 | April 13 |
| 2002 | April 13 |
| 2003 | April 18 |
| 2004 | April 9 |
| 2005 | April 9 |
| 2006 | April 14 |
| 2007 | April 6 |
| 2008 | April 5 |
| 2009 | April 10 |
| 2010 | April 2 |
| 2011 | April 16 |
| 2012 | April 6 |
| 2013 | April 5 |
| 2014 | April 12 |
| 2015 | April 3 |
| 2016 | April 2 |
| 2017 | April 7 |
| 2018 | March 30 |
| 2019 | April 6 |
| 2020 | July 3 |
| 2021 | April 2 |
| 2022 | April 2 |
| 2023 | Slated to open April 1 |
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