Your family car can take a lap around Bristol Motor Speedway this Christmas season.
At Food City Speedway in Lights powered by TVA, families follow a holiday lights route in their own vehicle, with a stop available at the infield Christmas Village midway through the drive.
Car admission costs $25–$35, depending on the night and time. That covers the driving experience, including the speedway lap, with village access advertised as part of the visit.
The budget can grow once the kids spot the rides. Here’s what to know before choosing your night.
What’s New for the 30th Season
Bristol’s Christmas lights began in 1997, making 2026 the event’s 30th season. The show benefits the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, which supports children’s organizations in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
This year adds a 40-display Twelve Days of Christmas collection, giving returning visitors a new theme to watch for.
The oval lap remains the distinctive part of the outing. You follow the holiday route onto the actual speedway, with passengers free to enjoy the displays while the driver follows attendants’ directions.
For a motorsports fan, the setting is part of the attraction. For everyone else, it’s a Christmas drive through a place usually associated with engines and race-day crowds.
The core experience takes place in your vehicle. Families can focus on the lights or add an outdoor stop, depending on everyone’s energy and interest.
Dates, Hours and the Time-Zone Detail
The lights run nightly from November 20, 2026, through January 2, 2027, from 6–10 p.m. Eastern, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
That holiday schedule gives families an option for the day itself, whether they’re entertaining visiting relatives or looking for something to do after dinner.
Coming from Nashville or elsewhere in Central Time? Bristol is an hour ahead. The 6 p.m. opening is 5 p.m. Central.
Leave room for the entry queue, and avoid planning an arrival just before closing. Confirm the last admission time if you need a late start.
Filling out your holiday calendar? Franklin’s Victorian Christmas festival is another seasonal outing to consider.
What Your Vehicle Ticket Costs
Car admission is $25–$35 per vehicle, rather than per passenger. A family of four in an eligible car pays that total, which works out to $6.25–$8.75 per person before fees and extras.
The published prices for larger vehicles are $60 for vans and $175 for large buses. If you’re unsure which category fits your vehicle, contact Bristol before buying.
Online vehicle passes carry ticket fees; gate purchases do not. Compare the full online total when deciding how to purchase. Buying at the gate avoids those ticket fees, but does not promise quicker entry.
Sunday–Thursday discount opportunities are also advertised. If your dates are flexible, compare those nights before settling on a weekend visit.
The official event page provides ticket information and purchase options.
If you’re comparing family holiday outings, this guide to three Christmas train rides in Tennessee breaks down their fares and what comes with each ticket.
The Christmas Village Is a Midway Stop
Midway through the route, you can park in the speedway’s infield and visit the Christmas Village.
Vendors, marshmallow roasting, Santa visits and amusement rides give families reasons to stop. You can browse local goods and arts and crafts, or spend time watching the displays.
The music-synchronized Symphony in Lights, located in the Darrell Waltrip Grandstands, adds another reason to linger. Its lights flicker and flash along with holiday music.
Village access is advertised as part of the visit. Amusement ride tickets are sold separately, and food, shopping and other purchases increase the evening’s cost.
The advertised rides include a carousel, bumper cars, a pirate ship and the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Decide on a spending limit before arriving, especially if several children will want multiple rides.
If Santa photos are a priority, ask about availability and charges rather than assuming a photo package comes with admission.
Bring warm layers for time outside the car. A comfortable drive and a stop spent walking or standing outdoors call for different amounts of bundling up.
Fast Lane Costs $75–$85
Bristol advertises Fast Lane at $75–$85 per vehicle for quicker entry on selected busy nights. Before purchasing, confirm whether that price includes car admission so you can compare the full cost.
Listed dates are November 27–28; December 5, 12, 18–23, and 26.
Each pass requires a specific 30-minute entry slot, with limited spaces. That window is your arrival slot, not a promise that the drive or entire visit lasts half an hour. Traffic flow affects the time spent on the route.
Fast Lane is worth comparing if your group has limited tolerance for waiting in the car. It still helps to leave the evening flexible, particularly if you want village time.
Skating Has Its Own Schedule
The Tri-Cities Airport Ice Rink presented by Stateline Services runs November 19, 2026, through January 10, 2027.
Its season starts before the lights and continues after them. Daily hours vary, so use the official rink schedule when planning both activities.
Ticket sales for the final skating session close one hour before that day’s posted closing time. Arriving while the rink is still open may be too late to buy that last session.
Check current skating admission prices before adding the rink to your evening. If skating is a priority, plan around its session schedule rather than assuming there will be time after the lights.
Before You Drive to Bristol
The speedway’s mailing address is 151 Speedway Boulevard, Bristol, Tennessee, but use current event directions for the lights entrance. Check same-day operating notices before a long drive, especially during winter weather, and allow extra time for queuing.
Call 866-415-4158 for vehicle categories, ticket inclusions or specific access needs. If someone needs restroom access while waiting or step-free routes in the village, ask before joining the line.