I admit, for a while there I was a little concerned that the summer heat wasn’t coming. When we entered June in the mid-60s, I panicked. Isn’t it usually in the 90s after Memorial Day? I fretted. A few short weeks later, in came summer and all of its humidity. Everything is as it should be.

Along the lines of things being as they should, it’s that time again, Fredericksburg. We’re excited to bring you the Fredericksburg Parent & Family magazine 2023 Family Favorites contest winners. The hot summer weather may have delayed, but our contest is always on time.

If you’re new to the ‘burg, or to the magazine, this is our ninth annual contest in which we allow you, the reader, to nominate businesses, service providers, restaurants, schools, and places of faith for the coveted title of Family Favorites Winner. Each year, you fill 50-plus categories with your community favorites.

For those who have been with us for a while, you’ll see all your old favorite categories and many with fresh faces in the winner’s circle. And with the pandemic now in the rear-view mirror, we’ve eliminated that category—thank you to all of winners who served our community in its neediest hour—and have added a new birth support category for the women’s health service providers who aren’t physicians or OB/GYNs.

To our plethora of winners, thank you for how well you serve this vibrant community. The families who call the Greater Fredericksburg area home rely on you for their well-being and quality of life.

If you’re eager to dive right in, flip to page 15 and enjoy this special section that has become a long-standing tradition for the families in the area.