Best Preschool
Oak Village Academy Read More
Seeds of Faith Preschool
Primrose School
Best Public School
Willow Spring High School
TIE: Fuquay-Varina High School & Willow Springs Elementary School
Herbert Akins Road Elementary School
Best Active Adult Community
Windsor Point
The Aspens Holly Springs
Carolina Gardens by Del Webb
Best Nonprofit
Guardian Angel Thrift Read More
Military Missions in Action
TIE: Fuquay-Varina Jeep Club (FVDDJ) & US Dog Coalition and Rescue
Best Interior Design Firm
House of Maevie
ASF Interiors
The Bath Remodeling Center
Best Place for Live Music
Niche Cocktail and Wine Lounge
Aviator Hangar Bar
The Brick
Best Local Event or Festival
Follow Me to Fuquay-Varina
BBQ, Blues & Brews
HollyFest
Best Local Music Group or Artist
Maverick Rose Read More
2Digh4
Heather Rogers
Best School Principal
Kris Clark, Fuquay-Varina Middle School Read More
Heather Johnson, Fuquay-Varina Elementary School
James Cole, Holly Ridge Middle School
Best School Coach
Tom Bellucco, Fuquay-Varina Middle School Football & Basketball Read More
David Kushner, Willow Spring High School Basketball
Jeb Hall, Fuquay-Varina High School Football
Best Place for Outdoor Recreation
Bass Lake Park
Fleming Loop Park
Hilltop Needmore Town Park
Best Place for Family Fun
McWally’s Read More
Polly’s Petal Patch
Rock Solid Warrior
Best Place for a Fun Night Out
McWally’s
Rock Solid Warrior
Fuquay-Varina Arts Center
Best Fitness Program
Original Strength Institute
ClubWorx
Level 6 Training
Best Yoga/Pilates Studio
Bradley’s Yoga and Fitness
PRANA Yoga Holly Springs
ClubWorx
Best Kids’ Program
Lune Spark Center for Creativity
Rock Solid Warrior
TIE: Fuquay-Varina Arts Center & Arts Inspired Dance Academy
Best Track-Out or Summer Camp
Rock Solid Warrior
Lune Spark Center for Creativity
Arts Inspired Dance Academy
Best Local TV Personality
Don Schwenneker, ABC11 Read More
Brian Shrader, WRAL
TIE: Wes Hohenstein, CBS 17 & Chris Michaels, WRAL
Best Local Radio Personality
Erica DeLong, iHeartRadio
Maverick Rose
KC O’ Dea, 106.1 FM TALK
Best Local Social Media Account
Today in the Quay, @todayinthequay
The Blind Pelican, @blindpelicanseafood
Rescued WOOD Rehab, @rescuedwoodrehab
Best Local Podcast
The Maverick Rose Music Hour
Better Together
Basically Famous
McWally’s
Best Place for a Fun Night Out & Best Place for Family Fun
Since its opening last year, McWally’s quickly emerged as a top destination for celebrations, gathering, and family fun, with 20 bowling lanes, laser tag, arcade games, and a mixed-reality Valo arena. Plus, there’s food, drinks, and big-screen TVs aplenty throughout the dining and bar areas — a veritable playground for kids and adults alike.
Guardian Angel Thrift
Best Nonprofit
With locations in Fuquay-Varina and Apex, 80% of thrift store proceeds help fund Alzheimer’s research in North Carolina. In its 27th year, Guardian Angel Thrift has contributed more than $3 million toward research grants through the Dementia Alliance of NC. Guardian Angel Thrift also won the Maggy Award for Best Resale Shopping.
Oak Village Academy
Best Preschool
A guiding principle at Oak Village Academy: Whatever you can do inside, you can do outside.
“There’s enough outdoor space for all of the children to be outside all at the same time,” says owner Adam Zablud. Sometimes those outdoor environments are used for active play or lunchtime picnics, other times for structured learning, like curriculum-based centers.
“Let’s create something that brings children back outside and gets them learning through exploration and through nature,” says Adam.
Owner Alicia Fink designed the school’s campus with detailed intention, implementing a variety of architectural styles on the building exteriors. She crafted a welcoming lobby that feels like a living room, with framed family photos flanking a cozy fireplace surrounded by plush couches. “It’s a very warm environment; we want it to be another home for the children,” says Alicia.
Don Schwenneker, ABC11
Best Local TV Personality
A 6’5” stature and a penchant for covering special weather events earned ABC11 Eyewitness News Chief Meteorologist Don Schwenneker — a Holly Springs resident — the nickname “Big Weather.”
The Maverick Rose Music Hour
Best Local Podcast
Hosted by musician Maverick Rose (voted best local musician), Darcy Woodward, and Jim Spilios, The Maverick Rose Music Hour discusses all things music on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., live from Niche Cocktail and Wine Lounge in Holly Springs. Join the crew for the live recordings or catch the show via YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
maverickrosemusic.com/maverick-rose-music-hour
Kris Clark, Fuquay-Varina Middle School
Best School Principal
Tom Bellucco, left, and Kris Clark
At Fuquay-Varina Middle School, principal Kris Clark has “a hand in everything,” from teaching a math class, assisting with the design of the new building (which opened in August 2024), and managing the staff, to fielding questions from parents and even occasionally cleaning bathrooms.
“Being the instructional leader is my top priority,” Kris says.
Tom Bellucco, Fuquay-Varina Middle School
Best School Coach
After leading Fuquay-Varina Middle School football and boys’ basketball through undefeated seasons last year, Coach Tom Bellucco stepped into the role of Athletic Director for the 2025– 26 school year. You won’t find him sidelined, though — Tom still coached the girls’ basketball team and assisted with football this year. Building relationships with the student-athletes is the best way to make an impact, he says.
“Showing (the students) that you can be tough and hold them accountable while still being there for them as a shoulder to lean on — I think kids need that more than ever. They need a person to push them, but do it in the right way. Create that bond first, and then once you have that trust, push them to where they don’t think they can go.”
See the rest of the Maggy winners:
- Restaurant Spotlight: Truman’s Smokehouse & Kitchen
- The Madness of March: A Bracket of Complaints
- Recipes from Readers: Apple Cinnamon Crumb Cake
- Fueled by Giving
- Meet & Greet: Rachel Cornett
- Dig In & Drink Up: Desert Rose
- See & Do: March to April 2026
- Presenting the 2026 Maggy Awards
- 2026 Maggy Awards: Restaurants
- 2026 Maggy Awards: Lifestyle
- 2026 Maggy Awards: Services
- 2026 Maggy Awards: Shopping
