Food City is extending its partnership with the tradition-rich Speedway in Lights powered by TVA at Bristol Motor Speedway via a multi-year agreement taking the sponsorship through 2030.

The Food City Speedway In Lights powered by TVA will open for its milestone 30th annual season of spreading holiday cheer across the Appalachian Highlands Region on Friday, Nov. 20 and will run until Sunday, Jan. 2, 2027. During that 30-year timespan, SCC-Bristol has raised more than $23 million to assist children in need, with Food City Speedway In Lights leading the way as the organization’s top fundraiser.

The dazzling holiday light display showcases more than 4 million lights spread across more than 300 festive displays in a 5.5-mile route that winds through the property alongside historic Bristol Dragway and is highlighted by a festive lap around the half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway. The popular light show operates from 6-10 p.m. each night, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The six-week holiday extravaganza is the major fundraiser for the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and since its inception in 1997 has helped SCC-Bristol raise more than $23 million for the nearly 100 local children’s-based organizations throughout the 18-county region surrounding BMS in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Longtime BMS partner Food City became the title sponsor of the brilliant light show in 2024. Before that, it had been involved with Speedway In Lights and the BMS Winter Events as a presenting sponsor of various activities. Today’s announcement continues the popular supermarket chain’s commitment as the headliner for the main event.

“We are thrilled that our wonderful friends at Food City are extending their sponsorship of Speedway In Lights in this important milestone year so we can continue our mission of improving the lives of our area children in need,” said Claudia Byrd, executive director of the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. “To think that ‘our little light show’ is now celebrating its 30th year and has grown into what it is today brings a huge smile to my face. We are so proud of what we have accomplished through this program and we look forward to creating more memories and providing the agencies who assist our children in need with the necessary resources to accomplish their goals and objectives.”

Since Food City’s sponsorship began in 2024, the show has benefitted from a host of new attractions. This year the show will add another new 40-display collection titled the “12 Days of Christmas” that will wind through the middle of the route and add a brand-new theme for those who visit. In the past three years Food City’s sponsorship has elevated the show with the following:

  • More than 40 new Santa’s Safari LED displays added in 2024
  • A new Santa Beach Hut collection, with 40 display pieces, featured in 2025
  • The Eastman Credit Union Mega Slide added to HSN Christmas Village and coming back again this season as one of the most popular fun-rides for kids

Food City has been a prolific partner with BMS for more than 30 years and their association is anchored by their 35-year racing entitlements, including the tradition-rich Food City 500 NASCAR Cup Series race, April 11, 2027, and the Food City 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, Aug. 13, 2027.

“Claudia and Speedway Children’s Charities do an outstanding job serving our community,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City President and CEO. “Speedway in Lights is a treasured holiday tradition that brings joy to visitors from across the nation and beyond. We’re proud to continue our sponsorship of Food City Speedway in Lights powered by TVA to help make a meaningful difference for children in need across our region.”

In addition to the new displays being introduced this year like the TruShine Carwash, Scooter’s Coffee at Turn One, the route will continue to offer many of its longtime favorites, including Ripley’s Sea of Illumination, NASCAR Pit Stop, Dinosaur Land presented by Boone Lake Marina, the beautiful Candelabra, Drag Cars, Victorian Village, Beech Mountain Resort Snowman Maker, the Nativity Scene presented by Visit My Smokies and the always popular Toy Land.

Several Food City Speedway In Lights partners also have custom light displays, including ETSU, Ballad Health, Food City, Hardee’s Restaurants, Barter Theatre, Bristol Herald-Courier, Beech Mountain Resorts, State Water Heaters, Wendy’s and BTES.  

Midway through the route, guests will have the opportunity to stop in the BMS oval infield and visit the popular Home Shopping Network (HSN) Appalachian country-themed Christmas Village, to 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.

In addition to visiting with Santa, kids will also have the chance to enjoy some adventures on several thrilling amusement rides. This year there are five rides available, including the magnificent Giant Carousel, Scooters Bumper Cars, Pepper Patch, the Pirate Ship and the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Individual ride tickets are sold separately inside the HSN Christmas Village.

While you are in the HSN Christmas Village, you will also be entertained by the popular Hardee’s Restaurants Symphony in Lights, located in the Darrell Waltrip Grandstands. The popular attraction returns to showcase more than 300,000 lights all coordinated to flicker and flash to the tunes of all of your holiday music favorites.

The Food City Speedway in Lights will continue to operate using dynamic pricing in 2026, where depending on the night of the week and time of the visit, prices for cars will range between $25-35. Guests are encouraged to check the Food City Speedway In Lights webpage for specific pricing for each night. Visitors should also be aware of several coupons and discounts available Sunday-Thursdays.  For larger groups, vans are $60 and large buses are $175. Visitors can take advantage of The Fast Lane presented by Citi, a speedy $75-$85 option, which provides a shorter wait time on select nights when traffic lines get long. Dates for The Fast Lane presented by Citi Bank are November 27 and 28 and December 5, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26.

After touring the Food City Speedway in Lights powered by TVA, guests are encouraged to visit the Tri-Cities Airport Ice Rink at Bristol Motor Speedway presented by Stateline Services. Located at BMS Entrance No. 1, the Tri-Cities Airport Ice Rink at Bristol Motor Speedway presented by Stateline Services returns to bring ice staking opportunities and lots of fun to local ice-skating enthusiasts. The Ice Rink will open on Thursday, Nov. 19 and run until Sunday, Jan. 10. Hours of operation vary from day to day, so please review the schedule on the BMS website in advance.

Guests should monitor Food City Speedway In Lights social media channels to be on the lookout for a variety of discount opportunities available through special partners on the following nights: Food City (Sunday); WCYB (Monday); Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (Tuesday); Southeast Industrial Construction and Wendy’s (Wednesday); and Bristol Gynecology (Thursday).

The Food City Speedway In Lights is supported by these outstanding media partners: Holston Valley Broadcasting (WTFM Radio 98.5 FM); WCYB TV 5 (NBC); Bristol Herald-Courier newspaper; and Bristol Broadcasting (WAEZ Radio Electric 94.9 FM).

The holiday festivities will officially kick off at BMS with the 16th annual Cline-Holder Electric Speedway in Lights 5K presented by Fleet Feet on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. All participants who pre-register in time will receive a commemorative event t-shirt and special holiday ornament and there will be free snacks and drinks courtesy of Food City for all participants who cross the Home Trust Bank Finish Line. To register, please visit the SCC-Bristol website.

About Food City

Food City is Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running sponsor and the second-longest in NASCAR. Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Foody City’s parent company) operates 163 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia and Alabama. For more information, visit their website at www.foodcity.com.

About Speedway Children’s Charities Bristol Chapter

The Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization committed to raising funds for distribution to children-based nonprofit organizations, was established in 1997. Since its inception, the chapter has raised more than $23 million, awarding grants to hundreds of qualified organizations in the 18-county area surrounding Bristol Motor Speedway. The board of trustees for the Bristol Chapter consists of 18 members, a diverse group of individuals from across the region with wide-ranging backgrounds. The trustees, two staff members and more than 300 volunteers are responsible for hosting numerous events at Bristol Motor Speedway and throughout the Bristol (Tennessee/Virginia) community. For more information about the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, visit speedwaycharities.org/bristol.

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