PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                   Media Contact: Susan Cort

December 12, 2006                                                        (717) 576-0076

NEW YEAR’S EVE IN HERSHEY PLANS FINALIZED

Let the count down begin! The second annual New Year’s in Hershey will continue last year’s tradition and feature many improvements to make Hershey’s New Year’s experience even better.

Attendees will enjoy the sights and sounds of New Year’s more this year with an improved sound system, lights and staging. Additional speakers will now carry music and the big count down to 2007 off the stage on Park Boulevard and down Chocolate Avenue. Enhanced lighting will make the giant Hershey’s Kiss replica shimmer in the night sky.

The musical line-up includes several bands with Hershey ties. In a special warm-up concert, The April Skies will take the main stage in support of their new album, “How it All Played Out.”  Not Quite Einstein, sponsored by ARM Group, follows at 9:10 a.m. featuring its unique blend of rock and roll.

The headline act, Big Tubba Mista, sponsored again by Buchart-Horn/Basco Associates will take the main stage at 10:30 p.m. and help swing in the New Year with a mix of its high energy tunes. The band will usher in 2007 with the traditional “Auld Lang Syne.”

In addition, the Penn State Children’s Hospital Stage will feature entertainment especially geared towards the young and young at heart. This new addition to New Year’s in Hershey will be featured on Chocolate Avenue, in front of the First United Methodist Church.

The schedule for the Penn State Children’s Hospital Stage includes: two dance performances by young dancers from Hershey School of Dance and One Broadway , 9:00-9:15 p.m.; Performer Jim Rule, 9:15 to 9:45 p.m.; two dance performances by middle school age dancers from Hershey School of Dance and One Broadway, 10:00 to 10:15 p.m.; Jim Rule from 10:15 to 10:45 p.m. and two dance performances by high school dancers from Hershey School of Dance and One Broadway, 10:45 to 11 p.m.

The band, Pink Yard Flamingos will play on the Penn State Children’s Hospital Stage from 11:30 to 11:30 p.m. Featured entertainers on the Food Court State include Hershey Area Playhouse Performers from 9 to 10 p.m. and Pianist Marc Lubbers at 10:30 p.m.

The Children’s Area will be home to fun games for kids of all ages and will be run by area church youth groups including First United Methodist Church and Fishburn United Methodist Church. First United Methodist will open the church to the community with a special New Year’s service from 7 to 8 p.m. The church will be opening until 11 p.m. that night. Church members will staff the Last Supper Café, featuring Petro (a taco in a bag), hot dogs, sausages, barbeque, nachos and snacks. Bricker’s will also be on hand New Year’s Eve as well as many other local food vendors including The Hershey Pantry and community and service groups selling food.

New Year’s Eve in Hershey will be emceed by WHP-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Russell and WINK 104’s Hollywood Hefflefinger. Parking is available downtown. Chocolate Avenue between University and Homestead will close at 8 p.m. and Park Boulevard will close at noon.

New Year’s Eve in Hershey would not be possible without the generous support of the key sponsors.

Platinum Sponsors included: Buchart Horn, Inc./Basco Associates, Derry Township Industrial Development Authority, The Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment and Resort Company, and Penn State Hershey Medical Center/Penn State College of Medicine.  Gold Sponsors are Chocolate Covers, Hershey Trust Company, and The Learning Experience for in- kind maintenance of www.hersheynewyears.org

Silver Sponsors include ARM Group, Inc. Capital Blue Cross, Northwest Savings Bank, Mr. Sorrento's Pizza & Subs, The Hershey Partnership, Hershey Federal Credit Union, Hershey Christian School and The Quandel Group, Inc. In-kind sponsors include the MS Hershey Foundation, The Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment and Resort Company, Chevrolet of Hershey, Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Stoner Graphix PepsiCo, Karns Quality Foods , Events, Etc., Northwest Savings Bank and Shakeys.

Additional corporate sponsorships are still needed as well as individual donations for fireworks sponsorships. For more information, visit www.hersheynewyears.org.

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Sidebar: Fun Hershey’s Kiss Facts:

NEW YEAR’S IN HERSHEY

HERSHEY’S KISS FACT SHEET

The Hershey’s Kiss replica will be raised three stories at the historic Hershey Press Building

An aluminum "skeleton" in the famous shape of a HERSHEY'S Kiss was made from 35 laser cut aluminum components, consisting of 24 Vertical ribs, and 8 horizontal ones along with support pieces. The skeleton has 384 welded joints.

One-hundred ninety-two square feet of wire mesh was then tied onto the skeleton over two days. Fifteen gallons of fiberglass resin was applied next to create the folds and wrinkles of a wrapped HERSHEY'S Kiss.

After the Kiss was gel coated and sanded, it was covered by adhering 500 lineal feet of commercial aluminum foil with an industrial adhesive. Then, the entire Kiss was covered with three coats of polyurethane clear coating for protection and to seal the edges of the foil.

The Hershey’s Kiss stands 7' high and 80" across and its approximate weight is 300 pounds.

The Kiss wouldn't be complete without the famous plume that resides on top and brings the overall height to 12'.

The Kiss was created by Stoner Graphix through the generosity of The Hershey Company and Hershey Entertainment & Resort Co.

PHOTOS OF LAST YEAR'S EVENT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PRESS SECTION OF WWW.HERSHEYNEWYEARS.ORG

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