In New England, December means snow, family, holiday lights — and for many, the excitement of truck racing. While the racing season cools down for winter, the holidays heat up with festive light displays and community events that perfectly complement the fast-paced world of truck racing. In this 2025 holiday blog, we explore the best ways fans and families can mix seasonal cheer with truck racing traditions across the region.
1. Drive-Through Holiday Light Events You Can’t Miss
One of the most beloved holiday experiences in New England is the Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This annual drive-through light show stretches for miles with themed displays and millions of dazzling lights — perfect for families and racing fans alike to enjoy together after a chilly race weekend. It’s become a staple local tradition that balances serene holiday beauty with the dynamic energy of motorsports.
Planning holiday gatherings around events like this adds a festive backdrop to your winter racing memories and keeps the community spirit alive even off the track.
2. Extend the Lights Tour with More Seasonal Attractions
If you’re seeking more holiday glow, holiday light displays like Magic of Lights at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough provide an additional spectacular experience. This popular holiday drive-through features millions of LED lights and themed sections that celebrate everything from classic Christmas motifs to interactive displays.
Events like these make ideal companions to weekend travel plans, allowing fans to take in both the thrill of truck racing and the magic of the season in one trip.
Why Holiday Events Matter to Truck Fans
Holiday events offer more than decorations — they’re community meeting points that bring together neighbors, families, and racing enthusiasts. Pairing a light show with off-season networking or fan gatherings helps foster the tight-knit culture that defines the New England Truck Series community.
3. Parades, Trucks, and Community Spirit
Throughout New England, towns host Christmas parades where trucks sometimes take center stage — decorated with lights, wreaths, and festive cheer. These parades celebrate local businesses, community organizations, and fan groups, often raising funds for charity and bringing smiles to kids and adults alike.
These events are a reminder that truck racing isn’t just about competition — it’s about community. Whether spectators bring hot cocoa to watch or local drivers showcase their festively decked-out rigs, holiday parades give fans a way to connect beyond the track.
4. Truck Safety & Fan Engagement: A Winter Perspective
Even though the New England Truck Series racing calendar wraps up before winter fully hits, the community’s excitement doesn’t stop. One of the great aspects of following the series year-round is learning how the sport continues to evolve away from the racetrack. For example, innovations in racing safety continue reshaping how the sport prepares for all conditions and seasons. You can read more about these developments in this post on safety innovations in truck racing, which highlights some of the key advancements that make motorsport safer and more accessible for fans and competitors alike.
5. The Legacy of Speedway Culture in the Holidays
For many race fans, the holidays are a time to reflect on tradition — and few traditions in New England racing are as storied as the history of Waterford Speedbowl, one of the region’s most iconic short tracks with deep roots in the truck racing community. Pairing visits to historic tracks (even off-season) with winter festivities helps bridge the gap between race day excitement and holiday celebration.
6. Family, Fans, and the Season Ahead
Whether you’re decorating your truck for a local parade, visiting festive light displays, or planning meetups around holiday events, the season brings new ways to celebrate the sport you love. These traditions strengthen the bonds between fans, drivers, and families — and remind us that motorsports is as much about people as it is about performance.
From all of us in the New England Truck Series community, we wish you a joyful holiday season filled with lights, laughter, and horsepower memories that last well into the new year!