Voting now open through Feb. 23 for annual Best of Sumter contest

There are almost 8,000 businesses, people and services the Sumter community thinks are the best in their class.

That's how many nominations were made in January for The Sumter Item's Best of Sumter 2024 readers' choice contest. Now, it's time to make some 300-plus of them winners.

Voting for the contest is open now through Feb. 23. Everyone, regardless of whether they have a subscription to The Item or not, can vote once per day in every category.

Now in its 24th year, the contest serves as Sumter's premier and farthest-reaching campaign to recognize all the great people, places, businesses, services and events in the area. Winners will be named in categories spanning auto and transportation, business, community, food and drinks, education, home and finance, medical services, professionals and shopping and commerce. That means if you want to know what your neighbors, coworkers, business associates and strangers all over town think the best place is in town to find an oil change, a place to take the kids, a specialist doctor, a home appraiser, a tax professional or a hotdog, Best of Sumter has the answer.

The contest also features community-based categories such as teacher, nurse and law enforcement officer. Voters decide on their favorite nonprofit organization, their favorite place to volunteer and their favorite church.

Having a subscription to The Sumter Item is not necessary to participate at any stage of the contest, including being a nominee or winner.

The red carpet winners' celebration and exclusive magazine release is scheduled for April 30. The magazine will be inserted into The Sumter Item and available to the public on Saturday, May 4.

Finalists have the opportunity to promote themselves to voters through various packages. For more information, reach out to your Item sales representative or email promotions@theitem.com.