The Pinnacle Speedway In Lights powered by TVA is once again set to dazzle visitors for the 26th year with more than 3 million brilliant lights illuminating 250 festive displays across a newly carved five-plus mile route on the Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway property. The magical show opened Nov. 18 at Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway and runs until Jan. 7 (6-10 p.m. each night).
As always, the Pinnacle Speedway In Lights provides an entertaining way for families to enjoy the holiday season and make the most of their special time together. Whether it’s your first time touring the amazing spectacle or you’ve made the popular light show a longstanding family tradition, the following list of highly-recommended things to do will help you maximize your time while visiting The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights:
No. 10: For those who love to “shave some ice,” and perform Bunny Hops, Axels and go Freestyle, The Tri-Cities Airport Ice Rink at Bristol Motor Speedway presented by Stateline Services is the perfect place to get your ice-skating fix with all your friends and family. This is a fun activity to add to your Speedway In Lights visit, either before or after you tour the light show. Located at BMS Entrance 1 off Hwy 11E, the Ice Rink is available by walk up or online reservation and admission is $12 per skater Monday-Thursday, and $15 per skater Friday-Sunday. Hours of operation vary from day to day, so guests should review the schedule in advance by visiting the BMS website.
No. 9: You will definitely want to check out the brand-new Pinnacle Speedway In Lights route, which has been expanded to more than 5 miles across the sprawling Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway campus. Guests will continue to enter at the Bristol Dragway entrance (No. 3) off Hwy. 394, but this year, all guests will also exit at the Dragway entrance. After visiting the Christmas Village in the BMS infield, guests will still have a significant portion of the light show remaining before they exit back on to Hwy. 394.
No. 8: The Pinnacle Speedway In Lights route offers all of your all-time favorite magical displays, including the Twelve Days of Christmas, NASCAR Pit Stop, Dinosaur Land, the beautiful Candelabra, Drag Cars, Victorian Village, Snowman Maker, the Nativity Scene presented by Visit My Smokies and Toy Land.
No. 7: If you love holiday music combined with sparkling lights – approximately 300,000 to be exact – you’ll want to take some time to savor the tradition-rich Symphony in Lights when you make a stop at the Christmas Village. Spread across the vast Darrell Waltrip Grandstand between turns 3 and 4, the Symphony in Lights display flashes and flickers to the jingles, sounds and beats of all the best holiday classics.
No. 6: Speaking of favorite displays, back by popular demand for its sixth consecutive season as one of the leading attractions along the route, the Mycroft Signs Race to Space will take you on an interstellar journey. The galaxy themed tunnel features a starburst light show that will provide guests with an ‘Out of this World’ experience for sure.
No. 5: Another storied display that every guest can’t get enough of is the Ripley’s Sea of Illumination, which transports visitors into a cool underwater world of holiday lights that literally flows underneath the front-stretch grandstands of the famed BMS oval.
No. 4: Take a fast pass to holiday bliss!! For only a few bucks more – $50 (hey, it’s for the kids, right!) – The Fast Lane presented by Citi gives your vehicle permission to cut through the long line on select nights and have a much shorter wait before you tour the fabulous light show. Nights when the The Fast Lane presented by Citi will be available are November 25 and 26 and December 3, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.
No. 3: Rev up your holiday fun by taking your personal vehicle for a spin around the historic half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway oval! Your tires will touch the same all-concrete surface where so much NASCAR history has been made over the years. You can also experience the sensation of what it’s like to feel gravity’s pull as you drive up close to the wall on the storied high-banks. As a high-horsepower bonus, you’ll also drive down the return road of the legendary Bristol Dragway – or you may know it as Thunder Valley – one of the most iconic dragstrips in the United States.
No. 2: You will want to check out the Appalachian-themed Christmas Village during your SIL visit. Located in the infield of the legendary oval, you can park your vehicle and stretch your legs for a while as you walk around and check out some cool attractions and visit with a variety of vendors. You’ll want take advantage of photo opportunities in front of several special holiday displays, roast marshmallows over an open fire, shop with a variety of local vendors and check out some great arts and crafts. Several family-friendly midway rides will be available and the kids will also get to visit with Santa Claus in the Barter Theatre Santa Hut.
No. 1: Visiting the Pinnacle Speedway in Lights is such a longstanding tradition-rich event in the Appalachian Highlands Region and something that you and your family can enjoy this holiday season while spending precious time together. Besides, enjoying quality time with family and friends and savoring the great feeling you get for making a huge difference in the lives of so many children is what the holidays are all about!
The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights, the major fundraiser for SCC-Bristol, runs through Saturday, Jan. 7, spreads across a five-mile route illuminated by more than 3 million lights and 250 dazzling displays. A trip through the light show sends guests alongside the historic Bristol Dragway and all throughout the property, culminating with a lap around the iconic high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway half-mile oval.
The Pinnacle Speedway In Lights costs $20 for cars from Sunday through Thursday and $25 per vehicle on Friday and Saturday nights. For larger groups, vans are $50 and buses are $125. Visitors can take advantage of The Fast Lane presented by Citi, a speedy $50 option which provides a shorter wait time on select nights when traffic lines get long. For more information about The Pinnacle Speedway In Lights powered by TVA, please visit the BMS website.
