Best of the Pines is an annual people’s choice event, 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 Nominating Phase

When: Wednesday, May 24 – Wednesday, June 14
Where: Right here, on bestofthepines.com
How: 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 apply.


 

The Final Voting Phase

When: Opens June 28
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 13, 2023 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 17, 2023
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 advertise@thepilot.com or 910-692-7271


 

The Artwork

Thank you to the incredibly talented Miranda Glyder for our contest graphics this year! Miranda is a graphic designer for O.Henry magazine and we’re thrilled to incorporate her work into Best of the Pines 2023.