Bristol’s historic downtown State Street will be decorated in MAROON & ORANGE (Hokies) on the Virginia side of town, and the ORANGE & WHITE (Vols) on the Tennessee side of town. UT & VT flags also will also line State Street in the downtown district, as well as portions of State Street will be closed Thursday evening through Friday afternoon to accommodate the influx of visitors and locals, and to allow the more than 75+ merchants, breweries and restaurants to expand their stores out onto the sidewalk for fuel up before the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept 10.
Quaker Steak and Lube has been designated as the home base for the Hokies, while 620 State will serve as the home base for the Vols, as chosen by each university’s alumni association for Sept 8-10.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 8
6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., Live music by award-winning FOLK SOUL REVIVAL, along with BROTHERS OF THE HIGHWAY and JAMES MEADOWS on the Food City State Street main stage. THIS IS A FREE EVENT!
9:15 p.m., SPECIAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORIC BRISTOL SIGN – you don’t want to miss this! Live music will continue from Folk Soul Revival and will conclude at 10:15 p.m.
Visitors and locals can then explore and frequent one of several restaurants and live music venues throughout the night in historic downtown Bristol.
5:30-9:30 p.m., BREWFEST AT BRISTOL (www.brewfestatbristol.com), a craft beer festival with 40+ breweries and live music at the Country Music Mural, will take place at the Downtown Center on State Street. Brewfest at Bristol is a ticketed event, 21+.
FRIDAY, SEPT 9
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Fans will get a chance to meet a number of former players from both Tennessee and Virginia Tech, several of whom have played in the NFL. The players will be on hand to sign autographs and visit the SPORTS DESK, which will be set up on the Food City main stage. Pep bands from both schools, as well as cheerleaders and mascots, have been invited to participate and to get fan bases pumped up! THIS IS A FREE EVENT!
Fans will also get to participate in painting the University of Tennessee “Rock” and the Virginia Tech “Hokie,” play cornhole throughout the day. Also on tap is live music from SPANK and BROTHERS OF THE HIGHWAY, beginning at 11 a.m.
As a precursor to the mega Honda Ridgeline presents Bristol’s Tailgate Party concert at Bristol Motor Speedway, which will feature Kenny Chesney, The Band Perry and Old Dominion.
To assist fans in planning their trip, the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol Visitor Playbook will be available for fans online at www.BattleInOurBackyard.co
Check back to this event page often as additional details and transportation/shuttle information is released.
The Battle on the State Line Kickoff & Pep Rally is hosted by the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Bristol Motor Speedway, City of Bristol Tennessee, City of Bristol Virginia, Discover Bristol and Food City, as well as partners Believe in Bristol, Birthplace of Country Music and Virginia Tourism Corporation.