Parents of Katy, and surrounding areas — it’s time to roll out the red carpet for your most-loved local businesses! We’re so excited to announce the launch of our 2025 Family Favorites Awards, where you get to nominate, vote, and celebrate the best of the best in family-friendly services, activities, and businesses.

🧡 Why Supporting Our Local Businesses Is So Important

Local businesses are the heartbeat of our community. They're the mom-and-pop shops, family-run services, and neighborhood gems that add personality, passion, and care to everything they do. When you support a local business, you're not just buying a product or service—you’re investing in your neighbors, your schools, your parks, and your community's future.

Here’s why it matters:

🌟 They Create Jobs – Local businesses are some of the biggest contributors to job growth right here in our own zip codes.
🌟 They Give Back – Many small businesses are the first to sponsor youth sports teams, school fundraisers, and community events.
🌟 They Know Your Name – Personalized service and genuine relationships? That’s what sets local businesses apart from big box chains.
🌟 They Make Our Community Unique – From charming coffee shops to creative kids’ activities, our local businesses give our area its unique charm and family-friendly character.

When you nominate and vote in the Macaroni KID Family Favorites Awards, you're helping these hardworking owners feel seen, valued, and appreciated. It’s a small gesture that makes a big impact!

These awards are all about YOU—our amazing local families—shining a spotlight on the places and people that make parenting a little easier, a lot more fun, and sometimes even delicious (looking at you, ice cream shops!). Whether it’s the playground that saves your Saturdays, the dentist who makes your kids actually smile, your Realtor that made buying or selling your home a complete breeze, or the bakery that turns birthday parties into legends, we want to hear about your favorites.

How It Works

This campaign is as easy as pie (which, by the way, is another category you can nominate for!). Here's how it all goes down:

• Nominations: From now until May 17th, submit your favorite businesses for each category HERE.
• Voting: Once nominations close, the top contenders will move on to the voting round. It’s like the Oscars, but with fewer speeches and a lot more playgrounds.
• Results: The winners will be announced in a celebratory article highlighting the best businesses in Katy, Fulshear area! - Winners Announced on June 6th!

Categories for 2025

We’ve got categories for everything you and your family love—check them out:

🏆 Best Playground
🏆 Best Indoor Fun Spot
🏆 Best Summer Camp
🏆 Best Pediatric Dentist
🏆 Best Birthday Party Venue
🏆 Best Family Photographer
🏆 Best Ice Cream Spot
🏆 Best Coffee Shop for Tired Parents (essential, obviously)
🏆 Best Toy Store
🏆 Best Preschool
🏆 Best Family-Friendly Restaurant
🏆 Best After-School Program

... and more!

Why Participate?

WHY NOMINATE? What’s in it for you?

• The awesome feeling of supporting your favorite local businesses
• A fun way to share the #KatyLocal love

WHAT WILL THE WINNING BUSINESSES RECEIVE?

• Family Favorite Award Digital Badge for their website and social media
• Family Favorite Award  to proudly display at their place of business
• Recognition in an article that reaches thousands of local families
• Free Premium Annual Business Directory Listing on our Macaroni KID Katy website
• The honor of knowing that Katy families think they are simply the best!

If you are a business click HERE to view the MK FF Awards Assets that you can use for advertising.

✨ Plus: The business with the most overall votes will win a special advertising package with Macaroni KID Katy!

Nominate Your Favorites Now!

Ready to shout out the amazing places that make life better for your family? 

Click HERE to submit your nominations! But hurry—nominations close on May 17th!

Let’s celebrate everything that makes Katy the ultimate place to raise a family. Because when it comes to creating unforgettable moments, these businesses deserve the spotlight!

Stay tuned for updates as we move to the voting round and reveal the winners. Happy nominating! 🎉

RULES:

• Only one nomination per category per email address
• You must use your own email address—no using someone else’s!
• Businesses can nominate themselves (and should!)
• Businesses are encouraged to ask their friends, customers, and colleagues to nominate them
• By nominating, you agree to be subscribed if you are not already a subscriber - you can unsubscribe at any time
• Macaroni KID will confirm and validate each email to ensure fairness. We reserve the right to eliminate any votes that are invalid or interfere with the fair administration of the contest.