THE SEASON OF LIGHTS

For the past several years the Bristol Motor Speedway has been deck out for the holiday season with a magnificent drive-thru light show. This years light show opened on November 17, 2017 and runs through January 5, 2018. More than 2-million lights make up this years display. The cost is $15 per car during the week and $20 per car on weekends. All proceeds go to benefit the Speedway Children's Charities.

I had heard about the Speedway Light Show for a few years and decided to finally decided to see them for myself.  So on Monday Night, December 11, two co-workers and friends, Georgia Eva and Brittany Nelson headed south on Interstate 81 for the two and a half hour drive to Bristol.

We arrive shortly after the 6 p.m. opening and there were about 30-cars in front of us at the ticket booth.  It took us about 15 minutes to reach the ticket booth and by the time we paid and started out 4.5 mile tour, the line had grown to more than 200 cars.

The route begins at the Bristol Dragway and takes you down the drag strip before you turn and go up the hill and start down through the parking lots between the the drag strip and the speedway.  As you wind your way through the parking lots you are treated to a wide variety of light in motion.

After winding our way through the parking lots, we made our way up the hill and proceed under the east grandstand before heading around the outside of turn thee and four.  From there we made our way under the grandstand and through the crossover gate and onto the speedway itself. 

Once inside the speedway we drove around the lower grove of the banking of turns 3 and 4. The grandstands were decked in light that ran from top to bottom. The infield featured Santa's Village where the kids could meet Santa and buy keepsakes along with taking a ride on a carousel and a couple of other holiday themed rides.

After exiting the speedway we reached the end of the tour. The entire route is about 4.5 miles and took us right at an hour to complete the route. All of us found the route to be very entertaining well worth the drive.

Here is a short video of our Speedway in Lights Tour