Morning
Start your day at the Abingdon Visitor Center, where visitors can enjoy the spirit of the holidays by enjoying the Festival of Trees.
Trees, beautifully decorated by local businesses and organizations, will be on display Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1-5 p.m. You can also join in on the fun by voting for your favorite tree.
After checking out the trees, visiting the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center is a must. Here, you can find beautiful handmade crafts and unique gifts created by some of Southwest Virginia’s most talented artisans. From home décor to fashion jewelry, you’ll find plenty of incredible gifts to put under the Christmas tree!
Afternoon
A quick drive down I-81 finds you in Bristol, where you’ll have plenty of options in the downtown area.
State Street, which straddles the state lines of Tennessee and Virginia, is a festive location every December as it’s decked out in its holiday finest. It also has an array of boutiques and shops where you can pick up last-minute gifts and restaurants like Burger Bar, a great spot to refuel before heading to Paramount Bristol.
Catch a matinee of Scrooge the Musical at the gorgeous theater, which was built in the 1930s, then grab some fudge or ice cream at Southern Churn. From there, you can really enjoy the season at Bristol Motor Speedway, where you can ice skate all afternoon!
Evening
If you’re in Bristol in December, no visit would be complete without experiencing Speedway In Lights at BMS.
The drive-thru holiday light show features three million lights and dozens of animated displays and covers a four-mile route that features a lap around the world-famous half-mile oval and a trip down the quarter-mile dragstrip.
The route includes a stop in the track’s infield, where you’ll find vendors, games, rides, and plenty of food options.