PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Contact:

September 19, 2005 Susan Cort Black, (717) 534-2970 or

Amy Buehler-Stranges (717) 531-7272

FIRST ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE IN HERSHEY EVENT ANNOUNCED

The Township of Derry will kick off the New Year with its new annual family event, New Year’s Eve in Hershey on December 31 starting at 9 p.m. at the corners of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues.

The evening will feature a special Hershey’s Kiss raise at the new Press Building in downtown Hershey, followed by a spectacular fireworks display. The special Hershey’s Kiss is being engineered by a team at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company and The Hershey Company.

The fun begins at 9 p.m. with music provided by April Skies, Not Quite Einstein and the headline act, Big Tubba Mista, that will play from 10:30 p.m. until midnight. Other local performers also will be entertaining the crowds throughout the evening.

New Year’s Eve in Hershey also will feature fine cuisine and fun food from a variety of Hershey restaurants and community and church groups. Games and special entertainment will be provided for the children.

The New Year’s Eve in Hershey event committee consists of 150 volunteers including a core group of Community Celebration Committee members that organized the Derry Township picnic celebrations.

“Our community has wanted to stage a New Year’s Eve event for some time and after two successful anniversary picnics, we knew we had the volunteer power in place to make it happen,” said event chairperson Mike Pries.

The event is sponsored in part by The Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Buchart-Horn/Basco Associates and Pepsi Bottling Group. Media sponsors are WHP-TV, WINK 104 and The Hershey Chronicle.

Additional corporate sponsors as well as individual sponsors are needed to cover the costs of the event. Individual sponsorship packages allow people to “buy a firework” to celebrate New Year’s in Hershey. Corporate sponsorship packages provide various naming opportunities including commemorative souvenir program ads and event signage.

“We invite everyone to come out at get kissed in Hershey on New Year’s Eve,” said Pries. “We are confident New Year’s Eve in Hershey will become our community’s newest family tradition,” he added.

During the event, Chocolate Avenue will be closed between University Drive and Homestead Road. Parking is available on nearby streets.

The website for New Year’s Eve in Hershey is updated frequently. For information on the event and for details on sponsorships, food vending and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.HersheyNewYears.org.

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