For the fifth year in a row, we asked readers to pick

“The Best of Botetourt.” And you sure did!

Voting was up 50 percent over last year.

And now, here are the results:

Best community event

1. Mountain Magic

2. Buchanan Carnival

3. Relay for Life

Best new thing in Botetourt in the past year

1. New Buchanan Theatre projector

2. Cupcake Cottage

3. Green Tea Massage & Wellness Center and Prestige Gymnastics (tie)

Most fun thing in Botetourt in the past year

1. Fincastle Fourth of July Celebration

2. Cupcake Cottage

3. Mountain Magic festival in Buchanan Read more »

You’ve got just a few days left to vote for your favorites in the 5th annual Best of Botetourt Reader Poll.

Voting closes at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll announce the winners on April 19.

We particularly call your attention to some of the new categories this year, including “best hidden jewel in Botetourt County,” “most fun thing that’s happened in Botetourt in the past year,” and “best community service project.”

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can still download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

What’s the best church outreach program in Botetourt County?

That’s one of the categories in the 5th annual Best of Botetourt reader poll.

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

What’s the best student-run organization in Botetourt County?

That’s one of eight new categories we’ve added to the 5th annual Best of Botetourt reader poll.

What will win there? We have no idea! Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

What’s the best place in Botetourt County to take relatives from out of town?

You tell us in the 5th annual Best of Botetourt Reader Poll. The winner last year (and in 2010)  was the Rhein River Inn in Buchanan. In 2011, the winner was downtown Buchanan. In 2009, the winner was the Blue Ridge Parkway.

What will win this year? Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

What’s the best summer camp for kids in Botetourt County?

That’s one of the eight new categories we’ve added to this year’s 5th annual Best of Botetourt Reader Poll.

Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

What’s the best community service project by a civic group or other non-profit group in Botetourt County?

That’s one of the eight new categories we’ve added to this year’s 5th annual Best of Botetourt Reader Poll.

Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

We have lots of categories in the 5th annual Best of Botetourt reader poll.

But one of our personal favorites is always “what’s the best thing not on our list?”

Last year’s winner was T/M Masonry. In 2011, voters picked Thriftway. In 2010, it was Roanoke Valley Chiropractic & Clinical Nutrition Center.

What will win this year? Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

What’s the best community event in Botetourt County?

You tell us in the 5th annual Best of Botetourt reader poll.

Last year, voters picked the annual Mountain Magic festival in Buchanan, the third year in a row it’s won the honors. Coming in second was the Buchanan Carnival, with the 12th Night concert in Fincastle in third.

What will win this year?  Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

What was the best sports moment in Botetourt in the past year?

You tell us in the 5th annual Best of Botetourt reader poll.

This is the second year we’ve asked the question. Last year, voters picked James River softball winning the state championship in 2011 (which came in the time period for the 2012 voting.)

What will win this year? Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.