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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com

While the word ice strikes fear in many, for others it is an opportunity to have a little fun and to aid a special cause in the process.

The Tri-Cities Airport Ice Rink which is presented by HVAC opened up to guests on Thursday evening and will run until Sunday, January 10, 2021 as part of the winter festivities at Bristol Motor Speedway for 2020.

Over the years, the skating rink has become one of the most popular activities held during the Pinnacle Speedway in Lights at BMS which serves as one of the primary fundraisers for the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.

The rink is set up in the BMS North Lot.

Due to the COVID pandemic, there will be a reduced capacity of skaters this year to provide for social distancing protocols. Guests will be required to wear masks upon entry, exit, high traffic areas, and on the rink.

Also, the ice rink surfaces and common areas will be sanitized frequently after each session and guests may be subject to temperature checks upon entering the ice rink.

Skaters will need to make advanced registrations to be able to take advantage of a fun time of gliding across the ice solo or with a favorite partner.

If one has made a reservation and becomes sick, you are asked to stay home and the rink will be glad to assist in transferring your reservation to a time when you are feeling better.

The cost to skate this year is $12 per skater Monday through Thursday and $15 per skater Friday through Sunday.

On Mondays from November 16 to December 14, 2020, the rink will be closed.

For those wishing to check on the hours of operation, guests can review the schedule in advance when they visit the BMS website.

After enjoying a time of skating, visitors can hop on up to take in the 24th annual Pinnacle Speedway in Lights Powered by TVA.

The Speedway in Lights has long been hailed as one of the premier holiday displays in the Appalachian Highlands Region and spreads across a four-mile route filled with more than two million lights among the 250 displays which are set up along the route.

When visiting the event, guests will pass through the historic Bristol Dragway and throughout the property and comes to an end as guests can take their vehicles one lap around the World’s Fastest Half-Mile.

Speedway in Lights runs through Saturday, January 2, 2021. The costs for cars are $20 Sunday through Thursday and $25 on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Larger groups can take advantage of the lights as vans are $50 and $125 for a bus.

There will be a Christmas Village once again on the infield of the track for guests to stop by and pick up a cup of hot cocoa, a bag of kettle popcorn, cookies, and funnel cakes along with other tasty Christmas snacks.

More information on the events at BMS can be found at the track’s website.