These Official Rules govern the annual Best Of Pigeon Forge (“Contest”), sponsored by PigeonForge.com, LLC (“Sponsor”). Businesses participating in the Contest are referred to as “Nominees.” Individuals who submit nominations or cast votes are referred to as “Participants.” Sponsor’s decisions regarding eligibility, nominations, voting, rule interpretation, and winner selection are final.
By participating, Nominees grant Sponsor permission to identify their business as a Contest participant or winner and to use the business name, logo, city, state, photographs, and related promotional materials in connection with the Contest without additional compensation.
This Contest is void where prohibited by law. Sponsor reserves the right to modify these Official Rules or suspend, modify, or terminate the Contest if circumstances beyond its reasonable control affect the fairness, security, or proper administration of the Contest.
1. Contest Administration
- No Purchase Necessary
- Active Contest Periods
- Privacy & Participant Information
No purchase necessary to enter or to win. A purchase will not increase your odds of winning. Subject to applicable federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations.
The Contest consists of two official periods: the Nomination Period and the Voting Period (collectively, the “Open Period”). Dates are announced annually on the Best Of Pigeon Forge information page.
PigeonForge.com does not share, sell, or distribute voter or nominator information to Nominees, sponsors, advertisers, or any other third party. Personal information collected during the Open Period is used solely for administering the contest in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
2. Nominees & Categories
- Employee Restrictions
- Eligibility of Businesses as Nominees
- Each business should fit the definitions listed on our category definitions page for each specified category in which they are nominated.
- The business must be open and operational upon the first day of the voting period and remain open and operational through the voting period’s conclusion.
- If the part of an operational business that would allow for qualification in any specified category is not operational during the time period formerly stated, the business may not be eligible in that category.
- Category Assignments
- Dollywood
Employees of PigeonForge.com, LLC are not eligible as Nominees in any category.
For any business to be eligible as a Nominee:
Sponsor reserves the right to adjust category definitions at any time.
Sponsor reserves the right to determine whether a business satisfies the eligibility requirements for a category and may request additional information to verify eligibility.
Sponsor reserves the right to reject, remove, merge, or reassign nominations that are incomplete, inaccurate, duplicate existing nominees, inconsistent with category definitions, violate these Official Rules, or otherwise compromise the integrity of the Contest.
Unless otherwise specified, Dollywood is not eligible for nomination in Best Of Pigeon Forge categories.
The purpose of the Contest is to recognize and celebrate the wide variety of local businesses that make the Pigeon Forge area unique. As one of the region’s most iconic attractions, Dollywood’s broad appeal and diverse offerings would make it a natural contender across numerous categories.
To ensure the Contest continues to highlight a diverse range of businesses and provide meaningful recognition throughout the community, Dollywood has been excluded from Best Of Pigeon Forge since 2019.
3. Voting & Contest Integrity
- Voting Submissions
- Prohibitted Conduct
- Integrity of the Contest
Participants may maintain only one voting account. Sponsor reserves the right to suspend duplicate or fraudulent accounts and invalidate associated votes.
Automated voting, scripted submissions, the use of bots, vote-buying, fake accounts, fraudulent activity, or any attempt to compromise the security, integrity, or proper operation of the Contest’s voting system is prohibited.
Sponsor reserves the right to investigate suspicious voting activity and may remove votes, suspend voting privileges, disqualify Participants or Nominees, or take any other action deemed necessary to preserve the integrity of the Contest.
Sponsor reserves the right to audit nominations and votes, investigate suspicious activity, verify participant eligibility, request additional information, remove ineligible nominations or votes, and disqualify any Participant or Nominee whose conduct, in Sponsor’s sole judgment, compromises or attempts to compromise the fairness or integrity of the Contest.
Sponsor’s decisions regarding Contest administration and enforcement of these Official Rules are final.
4. Nominee Promotions
- Marketing During The Open Period
- Promotions Run By Nominees
We encourage Nominees to promote their participation in the contest and provide a complimentary Best Of Pigeon Forge Media Kit with logos, graphics, and promotional resources to help them do so.
Some Nominees may choose to offer their own promotions, sweepstakes, or drawings to encourage participation. These promotions are created, managed, and administered entirely by the individual business and are not sponsored, endorsed, administered, or affiliated with PigeonForge.com or Best Of Pigeon Forge.
Nominees do not have access to our voting system or voter information unless a voter voluntarily shares that information directly with them. Any prizes, sweepstakes, discounts, or incentives offered by individual Nominees are the sole responsibility of that business and are governed by the Nominee’s own terms and conditions, not those of Best Of Pigeon Forge.
5. Best Of Pigeon Forge Winners
- Winner Placement
- Contest Results
- Release of Liability
The eligible Nominee receiving the greatest number of valid votes in each category will be recognized as that year’s Best Of Pigeon Forge Winner in its respective category. The eligible Nominees receiving the second and third highest number of valid votes will be recognized as Second Place and Third Place winners, respectively.
Results published during the Contest are unofficial until verified by Sponsor. Final results become official only after winner verification has been completed and winners have been notified.
Each winner, by acceptance of the designation, agrees to release all Sponsors, and their parent and subsidiary companies, their officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, and advertising agencies from all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages, or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with participation in the Contest or acceptance and use of any awards, promotional materials, or recognition associated with the Contest.
6. Branding & Intellectual Property
- Best Of Pigeon Forge Assets
- in conjunction with a backlink to PigeonForge.com
- on promotional materials
- on Click & Vote Banners
- Intellectual Property
During the Open Period, the Best Of Pigeon Forge logo may only be used:
Web use of the logo without proper backlinking is strictly forbidden.
After The Contest: When the Open Period has closed, only the certified first place, second place, and third place winners may use the logo to promote their business in its respective winning place. False use of the logo outside of the Open Period may result in future disqualification from the Contest.
Do Not Edit: The official Best Of Pigeon Forge logo, award, and any other assets shall not be edited or altered in any way. Sponsor may revoke permission to use Contest assets at any time if these Official Rules are violated.
Information collected in connection with the Contest is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Sponsor retains ownership of all Contest branding, logos, artwork, website content, software, and related intellectual property. Unauthorized use of Contest assets is prohibited.
See Also: Rules For PigeonForge.com Giveaways & Other Promotions