Harrisburg & West Shore
Recognizing family favorites throughout Harrisburg, the East Shore, West Shore and surrounding communities.
2026 Village Awards Announcement Delay
An honest update for the families, businesses and organizations waiting for this year’s results.
First and most importantly: I am sincerely sorry.
The 2026 results have taken far longer to finalize than anyone expected,
and I know how frustrating that has been for the nominees and businesses
that worked hard to encourage their communities to participate.
I originally hired a third-party vendor to help finalize the results, verify the voting data and compile the award information. After a series of delays, that vendor unfortunately stopped responding altogether.
Thankfully, all original nomination and voting records remained fully intact. I have since brought in another local small business to help recover the project, clean and organize the data, verify the results and create a more reliable system for the annual competition moving forward.
That cleanup has been time-consuming, but it is important that we finish the process carefully. Raw vote totals can still include duplicate submissions, invalid email addresses or other votes that must be reviewed before placements become official.
1
Data Recovery & Organization
Original records have been preserved and transferred into the new verification process.
2
Vote Review & Final Verification
Duplicate, invalid and potentially disqualified votes are being reviewed before final placements are confirmed.
3
Winner Announcements
Winners and runners-up will be finalized, contacted and publicly announced once verification is complete.
Estimated Announcement: Mid-August 2026
This is our current best estimate based on the remaining verification
work.
From a small-business perspective, this situation has honestly been a nightmare. My readers and the businesses and organizations that trust me with their promotions are my priority. I take responsibility for getting this across the finish line, and I am incredibly sorry that it has taken so long.
Thank you for continuing to be patient while we complete the final review. I am deeply grateful to every family who voted and every nominee who helps make our village a better place for local families.
Mid-August is an estimated announcement window rather than a guaranteed publication date. Final placements may change during verification and are not official until Macaroni KID completes the review and publishes the results.
2027 Macaroni KID Village Awards
Celebrating the businesses, organizations, programs, destinations and people local families love most across the Capital Region.
It Takes a Village. Let’s Celebrate Ours.
Local families know where the magic lives: the dance teacher who makes every child feel like a star, the pediatric office that listens, the birthday venue kids talk about for months, the camp that becomes the highlight of summer and the small business that somehow remembers every family by name.
The Macaroni KID Village Awards give local parents and caregivers the opportunity to nominate and vote for the places, programs and people that make family life in Central Pennsylvania easier, happier, healthier and a whole lot more fun.
Formerly known as our Family Favorites, the Village Awards build on that tradition with a clearer annual timeline, stronger verification and more opportunities to celebrate the winners throughout the community.
Three Editions. One Very Big Village.
Awards are organized by the Macaroni KID edition serving each community. Eligible businesses and organizations may be recognized within the region where they are physically located or primarily serve local families.
Carlisle Area
Celebrating favorites throughout Carlisle, Boiling Springs, Shippensburg and surrounding Cumberland Valley communities.
Hershey Area
Highlighting favorites throughout Hershey, Hummelstown, Elizabethtown, Manheim, Lititz and surrounding communities.
How the Village Awards Work
The awards move through several stages so families have time to suggest their favorites, finalists can be organized fairly and votes can be reviewed before winners are announced.
Families Make the Nominations
Parents and caregivers nominate the businesses, organizations, programs, destinations and local people they believe deserve recognition.
Finalists Are Organized by Edition
Eligible nominees are organized into the appropriate award categories and regional ballots.
Readers Choose Their Favorites
Once voting opens, local families can support the finalists they know, trust and genuinely love.
Votes Are Reviewed Before Results Are Final
Vote totals are reviewed for duplicate submissions, invalid email addresses, suspicious activity and other entries that do not meet the published voting rules.
Preliminary 2027 Village Awards Timeline
Planning ahead? Here is the anticipated schedule. Exact opening and closing dates will be published before each stage begins.
January: Community Nominations
Families submit the local businesses, programs, organizations, destinations and people they want to see recognized.
February: Eligibility Review & Ballot Preparation
Nominations are reviewed, duplicate entries are combined and eligible finalists are organized into regional voting ballots.
March: Public Voting
Voting opens across the Capital Region. Finalists may invite their customers, clients, students, members and supporters to participate.
April–May: Verification & Winner Notification
Votes are reviewed and verified. Winners and runners-up are contacted privately beginning in May.
July: Public Announcements & Celebrations
Public winner announcements, editorial features, community celebrations and eligible promotional opportunities begin in July.
This timeline is preliminary.
Exact dates, categories, eligibility requirements and announcement plans
may change as the 2027 program is finalized. Updates will be posted on this
page.
Who Can Be Nominated?
Village Award nominees should serve local children, parents, caregivers or families within at least one Macaroni KID Capital Region edition.
Eligible Nominees May Include
- Locally owned businesses
- Local locations of regional or national organizations
- Nonprofits and community programs
- Schools, camps, classes and enrichment programs
- Healthcare and family-service providers
- Attractions, restaurants and family destinations
- Individual professionals serving local families
Nominees Must
- Serve families within an eligible regional edition
- Fit the purpose of the nominated category
- Be open, active or meaningfully serving families during the award period
- Provide accurate identifying information when requested
- Follow the nomination and voting rules
Fair Voting Matters
These awards are meant to reflect genuine community support. Campaigning is welcome. Manipulating the vote is not.
Encouraged
- Sharing official nomination and voting links
- Inviting real customers, families and supporters to vote
- Posting reminders on social media or in newsletters
- Celebrating finalist status honestly and enthusiastically
Not Permitted
- Submitting duplicate votes through multiple email addresses
- Using fake, temporary or invalid email accounts
- Automated voting, bots or other artificial activity
- Offering payment or prizes specifically in exchange for votes
- Misrepresenting finalist, runner-up or winner status
Macaroni KID may remove votes, nominees or participants when activity
appears fraudulent, misleading, automated or inconsistent with the
published rules. Final placements are not official until verification is
complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does advertising affect the results?
No. Advertising, partnerships and sponsorships do not determine eligibility, finalist status, vote totals or winner placement.
Can businesses ask people to nominate or vote?
Yes. Businesses and organizations are welcome to share official links and invite genuine supporters to participate.
Can one organization win more than one category?
Potentially. An organization may qualify for multiple categories when its services genuinely fit each one. Final rules may limit closely overlapping placements.
When are results official?
Results are official only after vote verification is complete and Macaroni KID has confirmed the final placements.
Will there be winners and runners-up?
Yes. Categories may recognize a winner and one or more runners-up, depending on participation and the final award structure.
How will finalists and winners be notified?
Macaroni KID will use the contact information available for the nominee. Businesses should ensure their website and public contact details are current.
Village Awards Partnership Opportunities
Select sponsorship and celebration opportunities may be available for organizations that want to help Macaroni KID recognize the people and places local families love.
Sponsors Support the Celebration, Not the Outcome
Sponsorship may include campaign recognition, content visibility, category presentation or participation in eligible winner celebrations. Sponsors do not receive votes, preferred placement or influence over finalists and winners.
Want to Know When Nominations Open?
Watch this page for official dates, nomination links, voting information and award updates. Businesses and organizations may also email Rachael with questions about eligibility or partnership opportunities.
Request Village Awards Updates Contact Macaroni KIDThe Macaroni KID Village Awards are a community-recognition program. Categories, timelines, eligibility requirements, voting rules, recognition and promotional opportunities are subject to change. Macaroni KID reserves the right to review eligibility, combine categories, remove invalid votes and make final administrative decisions needed to protect the integrity of the program.