Holiday Lights and Winter Outings in the Tri-Cities (2026)

The Tri-Cities' biggest holiday lights event is Speedway in Lights at Bristol Motor Speedway, running nightly from November 20, 2026 to January 2, 2027, 6–10 p.m.: a 4-mile drive through millions of lights, including a lap of the track. Passes are priced per vehicle, not per person, so it's cheapest with a full car. Johnson City and Kingsport add Christmas parades, tree lightings and decorated downtowns in early December.

Speedway in Lights, Bristol

• When: nightly November 20, 2026 – January 2, 2027, 6–10 p.m.
• What: a 4-mile drive-through route with about 3 million lights and a lap around the half-mile track.
• Cost: per vehicle, so pack the car and split it.
• Skip the line: Fast Lane passes with 30-minute time slots are offered on select nights (Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 5, 12 and 18 in 2026). Weekends near Christmas get busy.
• On foot: a Speedway in Lights 5K run and walk through the displays is listed for Sunday, November 15, 2026. Confirm with the organizer before you sign up.

Check bristolmotorspeedway.com for tickets and any changes.

Parades, tree lightings and downtown lights

• Johnson City: the Christmas parade downtown is usually the first Saturday in December, with a community tree lighting nearby. Last year downtown was decorated with more than 180 trees.
• Kingsport: the Christmas parade and tree lighting at Church Circle are also in early December.

2026 dates aren't all posted yet. Check Visit Johnson City, Downtown Johnson City, the City of Kingsport and Downtown Kingsport for this year's times.

Make it a group outing

1. Pick the night: a weeknight beats a weekend for lines. Fast Lane nights cost more but save the wait.
2. Fill one car: the per-vehicle price makes a full car the best deal. Settle the split before you go.
3. Bring the extras: a thermos of cocoa, a holiday playlist, blankets.
4. Plan the after: dinner downtown, or back to someone's place for a fire.

More winter outings nearby

• Holiday lights walk: walk a decorated downtown instead of driving. See how to start a walking club.
• The Geminids, December 13–14: the best meteor shower of the year, under a thin moon. See the meteor shower calendar.
• Ski day: Beech and Sugar Mountain are about an hour or more away. See skiing vs. snowboarding.
• More ideas in winter things to do with friends.