Coming soon! StayGainesville Best of the Best 2025
Get ready for StayGainesville's Best of the Best 2025!
📅 StayGainesville Best of the Best 2025
Every town has its favorites — the go-to coffee shop, the hidden gem of a boutique, the brunch spot you recommend to out-of-town friends. At StayGainesville, we believe those local legends deserve recognition, which is why we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the StayGainesville Best of the Best 2025 contest. This community-powered initiative celebrates the businesses, venues, flavors, and experiences that define the Gainesville area.
From July 1 through August 15, 2025, locals and visitors alike can vote for their favorites across more than 15 categories. It’s 100% free to enter, entirely community-driven, and built on the belief that the people of North Central Florida know best.
📣 What is the Best of the Best 2025?
The Best of the Best is a grassroots recognition campaign designed to spotlight the exceptional businesses and destinations that make our region vibrant. Unlike other contests that rely on paid sponsorships or corporate voting systems, this one is proudly entirely fueled by local nominations and votes.
Whether you’re passionate about Gainesville’s growing food scene, devoted to your favorite live music venue, or can’t get enough of a certain food truck in Newberry — your vote helps determine who stands at the top.
🌟 Categories That Capture the Heart of the Region
Our 2025 contest features over 15 diverse and locally relevant categories, including:
- Best Local Restaurant
- Best Coffee Shop
- Best Bar
- Best Brunch Spot
- Best Food Truck
- Best Locally Owned Store
- Best Outdoor Adventure (Park, Trail, or Garden)
- Best Small Business
- Best Event Venue (Weddings, Reunions, Retreats)
- Best Museum
- Best Pet-Friendly Spot (Park, Patio, or Business)
- Best Brewery
- Best Live Music Venue
- Favorite Local Nonprofit
- Favorite Local Real Estate Company
These categories are designed to include a range of small businesses and community favorites that contribute to the cultural and economic life of Alachua County and its neighboring towns.
🔁 How It Works
The contest runs in two main phases: Nominations and Voting.
- Nominations (June 9 – June 30):
- Community members can nominate their favorite businesses using a simple form embedded on the StayGainesville website.
- Each category will accept open write-in responses to ensure a truly community-centered list of finalists.
- Voting (July 81 – August 15):
- The top-nominated businesses in each category will be added to a voting ballot hosted on SweepWidget.
- To vote, users must follow StayGainesville on Facebook and Instagram and can cast one vote per day.
- Voting is free and takes less than 5 minutes — a small but impactful way to show love for local businesses.
🏆 What Winners Receive
There is no cash prize — and that’s intentional. Winners receive:
- An official "Best of the Best 2025" window decal for display
- A digital badge for use on their website and social media
- A framed certificate or plaque
- A feature in StayGainesville’s winner spotlight series on Instagram, Facebook, and our blog
- Inclusion in a downloadable Best of the Best 2025 Guide
- A custom press kit with social templates
In addition, winners will have the opportunity to be considered for future collaborations or guest features through the StayGainesville platform.
🤝 Why It Matters
This contest isn’t just about bragging rights. It’s about building visibility for small businesses, encouraging residents to shop local, and showcasing the unique character of our area. Gainesville is full of places that deserve a spotlight — and when local people vote, it sends a clear message: community matters.
In a time when small businesses are still recovering and adapting, something as simple as winning a local title can be a major morale booster and marketing win.
🏠 Who Can Vote?
Anyone! Whether you live here, work here, visit often, or just love the community spirit of Gainesville, you’re welcome to vote. All you need is an email address and a verified Instagram and Facebook follow.
You can vote once every 24 hours between July 8 and August 15, and we encourage you to share the contest with friends, family, and fellow fans of North Florida.
🛍️ How Businesses Can Get Involved
If you’re a local business, it’s free to be nominated and free to promote your inclusion. We encourage you to:
- Share the nomination and voting links on your social media
- Ask your followers to vote daily
- Use our downloadable marketing assets (coming soon!)
Want to boost your visibility? Reach out to us at info@staygainesville.com to receive your custom promotional graphics.
✨ Stay Local. Stay Proud. StayGainesville.
The StayGainesville Best of the Best 2025 isn’t just a contest — it’s a celebration. It’s about recognizing the soul of our neighborhoods, honoring the people who show up for our community, and reminding everyone that the best of Gainesville isn’t on some national list — it’s right here.
Nominate your favorites, vote daily, and let’s make this our biggest year yet.
Voting opens July 1.
Winners announced August 20.
For more, visit www.staygainesville.com/best-of-the-best
#StayGNVBest #StayGainesville #BestOfGainesville2025 #SupportLocal
