Downtown Bristol Events
August 14 | Downtown Bristol
Join us Wednesday, August 14, 2019 for Food City Race Night on State St in beautiful downtown Bristol, TN/VA. Event starts at 1:00 pm and ends at 9:00 pm. Admission is FREE!
Regularly attracting over 30,000 people every year, Food City Race Night is one of the largest and most successful fan events held in conjunction with races at any NASCAR venue. Food City Race Night features entertainment, food, and fun. Fans of all ages get the opportunity to meet their favorite drivers and their teams. Fan favorites such as Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and others have made personal appearances over the years.
Food City Race Night started in August of 1987. A few hundred spectators showed up at the Kingsport, Tennessee Food City location to see legendary car owner and former NASCAR driver Junior Johnson, NASCAR driver Terry Labonte, and a Budweiser show car. “Food City Race Night actually began with a single driver and show car appearance arranged by one of our vendors at the Eastman Road Food City,” said Steven C. Smith, the company’s president and chief executive officer. “Our customers seemed to enjoy it, so we decided to repeat it the next year, adding a couple more drivers."
Over the next few years more and more fans began to make Food City Race night a part of their race week activities. “Each year the event continued to grow in driver participation and attendance," said Smith. "When one of our vendors secured an appearance by Richard Petty, the store literally couldn’t hold all of the fans who came out. We knew we had to relocate to a larger space and as they say, the rest is history.” To better accommodate the growing crowds, Food City Race Night was moved to downtown Bristol TN/VA in 1993. Later due to the ever increasing popularity of the event, the decision was made to also have Food City Race Night during the March race weekend. Starting in 2018, both the Spring and Fall Race Night events were moved to BMS in the hospitality area. Food City Race Night events are also held in the Spring during race week at the Knoxville Expo Center.
“Food City Race Night is one way we give back to the fans for the tremendous loyalty and support they have shown our company throughout the years,” said Smith. “It’s a commitment we take very seriously, like many of the drivers and team owners who have made themselves accessible to their devoted fans. It’s what made the sport great and differentiated it from its competitors. Going forward, my greatest desire is to see that commitment thrive.”
Plenty of drivers will be available to sign autographs, along with live music, free food sampling, show cars, racing simulators and special appearances by numerous NASCAR celebrities. All proceeds from Food City Race Night will benefit local organizations. Over a half million dollars has been raised through Food City Race Night and donated to various area organizations.
August 14 | Lumac Rooftop Bar
Another installment of Wine & Unwind Wednesday, this time we welcome My One and Only! We're excited for this duo to come out and kickoff Race Weekend in style! Come out and enjoy some great live music while you sip on a signature cocktail and eat some of Chef's one-of-a-kind entrees!
August 15 | Bristol Beer & Cigar Emporium
Studio Brew from Bristol, VA will be back with us for some tasting fun! Swing by and check out some local craft beer. See all we have to offer and our walk in humidor full of cigars!
August 15 | Bristol Public Library
Many popular office software applications have free versions for home users. In this class, we'll explore the pros & cons of Microsoft Office Online, Libre Office, and Google Docs.
August 15 | Kil'n Time Ceramics Studio
Coming up for #CanvasClass on Thursday, August 15th with Victoria! Starting at 6:00 PM, Victoria will teach painters how to recreate this #BootsForWalkin Canvas! Cost for this class is $35 and always #BYOB. Call or message us to make your reservations!
August 15 | Quaker Steak and Lube
Old School Rock n' Roll Band. Rusty Steel & Quarter Bounce always deliver a great show of all of your favorite songs!
August 15 | Bloom Cafe & Listening Room
For The Song’s Sake is a monthly music series featuring performances by emerging regional & nationally touring artists. Hosted by Momma Molasses on every third Thursday at Bloom Cafe & Listening Room in downtown Bristol, TN.
$5 cover, shows start at 7:30pm.
August 15 | Blackbird Bakery
Sheppard has been repairing, refinishing, and building guitars for over thirty years. In 2013 he celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Gerald Sheppard Guitars. Gerald builds nine to twelve guitars per year. His guitars have been used by professional artists and featured on the Grammy winning Pink Guitar CD. He has been a featured luthier at the renowned Swannanoa Gathering for thirteen years. As an accomplished lifelong fingerstyle guitarist himself, Gerald understands how to match custom design components to the needs of his client. His instruments have been used for professional studio work and on stage by today's top guitarists.
August 16 | Cumberland Square Park
Bring your coworkers or meet your friends for lunch on Friday, August 16th next to Cumberland Square Park. We'll have food truck vendors like The Pakalachian, Feeding Frenzy, Mountain Boy's Kountry Kitchen, and Baked and Loaded on site to cover all your lunch needs. Huge thanks to Mountain Sports Ltd for helping us pull this event together. Kickoff Race Weekend right!
August 16 | State Line Bar & Grill
From the heart of the Appalachian Mountains comes Jess Nunley. The 28 year old vocalist gets her inspiration from artists like Patty Loveless, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.
www.jessnunley.com
August 16 | Bloom Cafe & Listening Room
Friday , August 16th come hang out at Bloom Cafe in Bristol Tennessee! It’s going to be a fun and wonderful night of music that you’re not going to want to miss, so make sure you get there and bring your friends. Special thanks to Case Elledge for designing the sick flyer!
House Cat (psych/garage)
Mahto And The Loose Balloons(Experimental/indie)
Inside Voices (garage)
August 17 – December 21 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum will begin hosting a monthly gathering of local musicians for a full-on community jam session on the third Saturday of every month. The community jams are open to all ages and all skill levels.
The jam events have been organized to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun!
Jams will be scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., serving as a great warm-up for Saturday night gigs! Musicians are asked to bring their own instruments.
The sessions will be held in the Learning Center at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
For more information call 423-573-1927.
August 17 | Blackbird Bakery
Have your song request ready, Anthony Mangrum is returning to Blackbird. He will dazzles the keyboard and sing a large variety of songs. Anthony is always a crowd pleaser, so come early, order your butterscotch bar with homemade caramel icing, and enjoy the entertainment.
August 19 | Bristol Public Library
Join the Friends of the Bristol Public Library for their monthly meeting.
All interested members and participants are encouraged to use the meeting room entrance on the upper floor. For more information about the Friends of the Bristol Public Library, please contact the library at 276-821-6147 or the Friends directly at FriendsoftheBristolLibrary@gmail.com
If you are interested in joining the Friends, you can pick up a membership application at the library at any time or you can sign up online using Google.
August 19 | Blackbird Bakery
Join Blackbird Bakery for live bluegrass at 7pm.
August 21 | Lumac Rooftop Bar
Another installment of Wine & Unwind Wednesday, this time we welcome My New Favorites! We're excited for this band to play for us on our rooftop bar and lounge, Lumac! Come out and enjoy some great live music while you sip on a signature cocktail and eat some of Chef's one-of-a-kind entrees!
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