Best of the Pines is an annual people's choice awards campaign, presented by The Pilot newspaper, that honors the businesses and organizations that make Moore County a better place to live. Here's how it works:
The Write-In Nominatinons Phase
When: Monday, June 1 – Sunday, June 21, 2026
Where: Right here, on bestofthepines.com
How: You can select a business that already appears in a category, or you can write the business in if they’re not already listed. Write-in nominations must be reviewed; pending approval, these write-ins usually appear on the ballot within one business day. One nomination per category. The ballot saves your nominations according to your email address, so you can exit the ballot and come back later to do more. If you nominate a business on Monday but then change your mind a few days later, you can return and write in that new place that just opened around the corner. There is no final “submit” button.
Who: Just about any business in Moore County is eligible to be nominated in their appropriate category. Some exceptions may apply.
***NEW THIS YEAR***
You can now text to nominate! Businesses should contact bestofthepines@
The Final Voting Phase
When: Opens July 8, 2026
Where: Right here, on bestofthepines.com
How: One vote per category. And that’s it. There’s a lot to love about Moore County, which means there are lots of categories. And we want you to be able to vote for all your favorites, at your own pace.
If you vote for a nominee on Monday, you can come back on Tuesday and change your mind. There is no final “submit” button. Whatever you’ve voted for under your email address at when the contest closes will count as your one vote in that category.
The Event
What: A big celebration for the top 3 winners in each category!
When & Where: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at The Fair Barn in Pinehurst
The Magazine
What: A big, beautiful magazine full of the top 3 winners in each category
When: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Where: In The Pilot newspaper all over Moore County
Who can advertise: Anyone! Placing an ad isn’t dependent on the ballot and won’t affect the results.
How to place an ad: Contact bestofthepines@
For more information, check out these additional resources: