Here’s my checklist for the next Holiday countdown adventure:
- Milk
- Checkered attire
- Sunblock
Can you guess where we’re headed? Speedway, of course! And though you might not need sunblock in December (but I highly recommend it in May), you’ll definitely want to gather a group of friends and family to safely pile into the car, just like on race day. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrates the holidays in style with Lights at the Brickyard– ya’ll we’re talking over a million lights! I was itching to get to the bottom of this celebration and thought who better to call then the one and only, Lauren Guidotti. She’s a dear friend and one of Indy’s finest do-ers. Keep scrolling to hear what we chatted about, plus a little something extra at the end!
Ashley Miser: Tell us more about your role and how long have you worked for IMS?
Lauren Guidotti: I handle community outreach for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Basically, I look for unique ways to collaborate with organizations throughout our community. I’m coming up on my 5th Month of May with IMS, it’s amazing how time flies!
AM: What about your job excites you most?
LG: It has to be the closer we get to May. Watching our entire city get into the spirit of the Indy 500 and all the pieces that come with it (the first sounds of cars on track, the Indy Grand Prix, the Mini Marathon, the 500 Festival Parade, Carb Day…the list goes on) is inspiring! You can imagine, the hours are long and the days can be a little crazy, but when you drive home and see the checkered flags in people’s yards, the “Welcome Race Fans” signs in your neighbors windows and people posting photos after hosting their Porch Parties, you remember “this is exactly why we do it”.
AM: We all know that IMS hosts some of the largest events in the world right here in Indy, and the Lights at The Brickyard is no exception. Where did the idea come from?
LG: We continue to look for ways to bring the community together year round at IMS, and a holiday drive through experience seemed like a perfect opportunity to do so. With the addition of Lights, the LPGA tournament and Air Race as well, it’s amazing to see how much our calendar has grown!
AM: How many lights are actually on site?
LG: Over 2.5 million! It’s incredible!
AM: What is your favorite part of the light show?
LG: Definitely driving across the Yard of Bricks all while seeing the front stretch lit up with beautiful lights. It’s the best!
AM: What can attendees expect when they show up for Lights at the Brickyard?
LG: Millions of bright lights and fun and creative displays paired with a really amazing driving experience at the Racing Capital of the World. This year’s course has even more lights than last year and is longer too, so it’s worth coming out again even if you visited us in 16!
AM: And for our readers, I heard you had some special offers…yes?
LG : Yes! We know what an important role Indy Hub and its readers play in our community and we want to give them the chance to come out and experience this amazing event first hand. We’re offering Indy Hub’s readers a chance to get $10 off on Speedy Pass admission or $5 off on the Standard Pass just by following this link – We know you’re going to love it!
That’s it for this round of the Holiday Countdown! Stay tuned for one more as we continue through the holiday season here in Indy.
