SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
Process: Write-in nominations will be open June 1-21, 2026 at bestofthepines.com. Users may nominate once per category. The eight nominated businesses that have received the most number of eligible nominations will be designated as the Top 8 finalists in their respective categories, who then advance to the voting round. Voting will be open July 8-28, 2026 at bestofthepines.com. Users may vote once per category. The three nominated businesses that have received the most eligible votes will be designated as the Top 3 winners for Best of the Pines 2026 in their respective categories.
Timing:
- Nominations phase: June 1-21, 2026
- Voting phase: July 8-28, 2026
- Each phase will commence at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time and end at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Frequency: Limit one (1) nomination and one (1) vote per person, per category.
Promotion: Businesses are encouraged to use provided graphics, posters and logos to promote their participation.
Winner Notification: The Top 8 finalists are notified via email in late June / early July, with the Top 3 winners notified in late July / early August, and featured in the Best of the Pines magazine in September. Businesses are responsible for contacting The Pilot / Best of the Pines to ensure they are on the list to receive email communications. After the magazine is published in September, the Top 3 winners will be posted on bestofthepines.com.
Eligibility: The contest covers diverse categories, including restaurants, shops, services, organizations and more within Moore County, N.C. The Pilot, LLC / Best of the Pines reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine eligibility for ballot inclusion and to remove any business, organization or individual from the ballot at any time for any reason. Use of script, macro or any other automated system to nominate or vote is prohibited and all such nominations or votes will be void. Businesses are prohibited from obtaining nominations or votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means, including, but not limited to, offering prizes or other inducements to members of the public, nomination or vote farming, or engaging in any other activity that artificially inflates the business’ nominations or votes. Nominations or votes cast or received in violation of these Official Rules will be disregarded and disqualified.
Use of Trademarks. The Pilot, LLC owns all rights, title, and in interest in its name and logos, including but not limited to The Pilot, Best of the Pines, Best of the Pines people’s choice awards, and any iteration of The Pilot’s Best of the Pines logo (“Nominate Us,” “Vote for Us,” “Winner,” “Finalist,” “Sponsor,” etc.). Modification or alteration of the Best of the Pines logo in any shape or form is expressly prohibited.
The purchase of advertising in The Pilot products does not affect the results of the Best of the Pines people’s choice awards.