Have you ever dreamed of getting a fantastical tour of a candy factory, just like the lucky “golden ticket” recipients in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory?” Well, now might be your chance. For the first time ever, Just Born Quality Confections, the parent company of everyone’s favorite Easter candy, Peeps, is offering a tour of the facility in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where the iconic marshmallow candies are made.
The sweepstakes, offered in conjunction with the Greater Lehigh Valley chapter of United Way Worldwide, will award the tour to one lucky winner and three of their closest friends. To enter for a chance to win, you must make a donation of $5 or more to the chapter between Jan. 30 and April 8.
The United Way seeks to improve lives and community conditions through education, food access and healthy aging. You can donate online by texting “peepsunited” to 40403 or by mail. The contest only allows for one entry for every $5 donated. The sweepstakes are open to participants nationwide and include airfare and hotel if needed.
The winner will also receive a $250 shopping spree at the Peeps and Company store (!). So they’ll have plenty of edible souvenirs to take home, which, honestly sounds like a dream come true.
“Although we’ve had many requests and lots of fans show up at our doors over the years, the Peeps Factory has never been open to the public,” Matt Pye, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Just Born Quality Confections, said in a press release. “We couldn’t think of a better reason to open our doors for the first time ever than by teaming up with our local United Way to help give back to the community that Peeps calls home.”
If you don’t make it to the factory, allow us to console you with this copycat Peeps recipe. Check out the full step-by-instructions from Ashlee Marie below, which involve whipping up your own marshmallows and colored sugar coating.
Will you be entering to win the proverbial golden ticket?