Hershey’s Holiday Bells Goes Interactive at Rockefeller

Rockefeller Center has always been the beating heart of New York’s festive celebrations, but this year, a new spark has been added to the city’s winter magic.

Hershey has introduced its Holiday Bells Interactive Experience, an immersive attraction that blends nostalgia, music, technology, and—of course—chocolate.

The activation takes one of the world’s most iconic holiday destinations and transforms it into a playful experience that reconnects visitors with the joy and wonder of the season.

Families, tourists, couples, and children are invited not just to watch, but to participate in an interactive celebration unlike anything Hershey has ever created.

Hershey’s Holiday Experience Takes Center Stage

At the core of this installation is the Hershey’s Holiday spirit—warmth, togetherness, and shared moments.

The exhibit features oversized glowing bells that visitors can touch, move around, or collaborate with to create harmonized musical tones.

The bells respond to proximity and motion, inviting spontaneous interaction between strangers and families alike.

This is where the experience becomes more than a marketing event. As people play the bells together, the plaza fills with music, laughter, and the kind of human connection that defines the season.

A Fusion of Tech, Tradition, and Chocolate Joy

Hershey’s vision for this project was simple yet clever: blend traditional holiday symbols with interactive technology to create a new festive ritual.

Key Features of the Experience:

1. The Musical Bells Installation

These large, beautifully illuminated bells react to human touch and motion, producing different notes. When multiple visitors interact at once, the plaza becomes a collaborative musical stage.

2. Immersive Light Displays

As the sun sets, the bells trigger projection patterns across Rockefeller Plaza. These lights synchronize with the music created by visitors, transforming the environment into a living artwork.

3. Augmented Reality Holiday Moments

Visitors can scan special markers to unlock whimsical AR scenes—floating chocolate shapes, animated winter characters, or festive greetings designed for instant social sharing.

4. Sampling Stations for Seasonal Treats

To complete the experience, guests can enjoy limited-edition chocolates and Hershey favorites available only at the holiday pop-up stations.

By combining sensory interaction, visual art, and sweet indulgence, Hershey elevates a simple promotional event into a magical experience.

Why Rockefeller Center Is the Perfect Home

Rockefeller Center during December is a global symbol of holiday spirit. With millions of visitors arriving each year to admire the tree, skate on the rink, or shop the festive marketplace, Hershey’s decision to introduce its interactive bells here is both strategic and sentimental.

Rockefeller is synonymous with celebration and tradition—making it the ideal backdrop for a brand built on warmth and nostalgia.

The installation complements existing attractions without overwhelming them, offering a modern twist to the classic NYC holiday experience.

A Marketing Breakthrough: Experience Over Advertisement

Hershey’s move reflects a shift in modern marketing: consumers want to experience a brand, not just see it.

The Holiday Bells installation positions Hershey not just as a chocolate company, but as a creator of moments and memories.

What makes this campaign powerful:

• It is family-friendly and accessible to people of all ages

• It invites participation, generating organic social content

• It uses technology intelligently, not as a gimmick but as a tool for connection

• It centers emotion—music, nostalgia, playfulness, seasonal joy

These elements create a memorable brand moment that lasts far beyond the final bite of chocolate.

Community, Connection & Holiday Cheer

One of the most heartwarming elements is watching strangers collaborate to play melodies on the bells.

Children teach adults the sounds, tourists join families, and groups gather to recreate holiday tunes.

This spontaneous cooperation brings back something often lost in busy urban life: shared joy.

And in keeping with the giving spirit, Hershey has tied the experience to several charitable initiatives, donating a portion of the season’s proceeds to children’s programs and local nonprofits.

It’s a reminder that the holidays are about generosity as much as celebration.

A New Holiday Tradition in the Making?

The success of the installation has sparked excitement online, with many visitors calling it “the most joyful surprise of the season.”

There is already speculation that Hershey may expand the experience to other cities or return annually to Rockefeller Center.

If the positive reception is any indication, the Hershey’s Holiday Bells Interactive Experience may very well become a permanent fixture of New York’s festive landscape.

Conclusion

Hershey’s Holiday Bells at Rockefeller is more than a seasonal activation—it’s a celebration of music, technology, and human connection, wrapped in the warmth of one of America’s most beloved chocolate brands.

By blending innovation with tradition, Hershey has created an unforgettable experience that brightens the holidays for families, locals, and tourists alike.

This year, the bells don’t just ring at Rockefeller—they invite you to play along.