The annual Best of the Red Rock Area awards and the Top Ten Under 40 were officially announced by the Marion County Development Commission Thursday afternoon.

An event was held at the Cordova Pavilion highlighting the best in local businesses, organizations, events, and more in a variety of categories meant to promote tourism locally, according to Executive Director Carla Eysink.

KNIA/KRLS was once again selected as the Best Source of Local News, a tradition that has continued annually since the best of Marion County awards have been given.

The Top Ten Under 40 recognizes some of the most outstanding young professionals from Pella, Knoxville, and the rest of Marion County. Those recognized both live and work in Marion County.

Best of Red Rock 2021: over 1,000 responses
TOP 10 DINING
1) George’s Pizza & Steakhouse
2) Checkerboard Restaurant
3) Liberty Street Kitchen
4) Cantaritos Grille & Cantina
5) Yamato Steak House of Japan
6) Deng’s Garden
7) Casa Grande
8) Butcher’s Brewhuis
9) Baggio’s Italian Restaurant
10) DutchFix

TOP 10 SHOPPING
1) Candi’s Flowers & Gifts
2) Raiments Fashions
3) The Sanctuary
4) Simple Treasures
5) Maurices
6) The Funky Zebras
7) Thistles Flower Market
8) Lakefront Living
9) Bruxvoort’s Home Center
10) Elite Boutique

TOP 10 AFTER 5 PM
1) The Knoxville Raceway
2) The Cellar Peanut Pub
3) The Grand Theater
4) Slideways
5) Peace Tree Brewing Company
6) A & P Pub
7) The Wijn House
8) Frosty’s Pub ‘N Grub
9) Nederlanders Tap & Golf
10) Liberty Street Kitchen

TOP EVENTS
1) Pella Tulip Time Festival
2) Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals
3) Thursday Nights in Pella
4) Pierce’s Pumpkin Patch Festival
5) Lake Red Rock Balloon Fest
6) Knoxville Living Windows
7) Melcher-Dallas Coal Miner’s Day
8) Pella Christmas Tour of Homes
9) Pleasantville PigOut
10) Marion County Fair

Best of Red Rock Area Category Winners
Salad: Hometown Meats & Deli
Appetizer: Checkerboard Restaurant
Pizza: George’s Pizza & Steakhouse
Cup of Coffee: Scooter’s Coffee-Knoxville
Ethnic Food: Cantaritos Grill & Cantina
Steak: Liberty Street Kitchen
Burger: Culver’s
Breakfast: Windmill Cafe
Dessert: Jaarsma Bakery
Tenderloin: Hometown Meats & Deli
Family Friendly Restaurant: Checkerboard Restaurant
Pork or Ham: Butcher’s Brewhuis
Seafood: Yamato Steak House of Japan
Restaurant Service: Liberty Street Kitchen
Happy Hour: The Cellar Peanut Pub
Sport’s Bar & Grill: Nederlanders Tap & Golf
Wine & Mixed Drink Bar: A & P Pub
Beer Bar: The Cellar Peanut Pub
Caterer: Central College
Date Night Restaurant: Liberty Street Kitchen
Date Night Activity: Grand Theater
Wedding Reception Venue: Sun Valley Barn
Family Reunion Spot: Cordova Park Pavilion
Meeting Facility: Cobblestone Hotel & Suites
Outdoor Eating Location: Kone Korner
Campground: Howell Station Recreation Area
Hotel: Cobblestone Hotel & Suites
B & B, Guest House or Cabin: Cordova Park Cabins
Hobby or Special Interest Shop: The Sanctuary
Women’s Shopping: Raiment Fashions
Consignment Shop: The Well Thrift Store-Knoxville
Gift Shop: Candi’s Flowers & Gifts
Fresh Meats: In’t Veld Meat Market
Locally Made/SouvenirL Jaarsma Bakery
Men’s Shopping: Theisen’s
Kids or Baby: Silver Lining
Garden Center, Nursery: Nick’s Greenhouse
Healthy & Fresh Foods: Big Acai Bowl
Retail Service: Jaarsma bakery
Live Entertainment: Knoxville Raceway
Historical Experience: Pella Historical Village & Vermeer Mill
Recreation Indoors: Knoxville Recreation Center
Recreation Outdoors: Slideways
Hidden Treasure: Pierce’s Pumpkin Patch
Place to Entertain Kids: Pella Aquatics Center
Teen Activity: Slideways
Community Photo, Video, Graphic Design: Digital Galleria Designs
Real Estate: Agency Home Realty
Home Builder: Cushman Construction
Banking or Financial Services: Marion County Bank
Auto or Auto Repair: Raceway Tire & Exhaust
Spa, Salon or Barber: Expressions by Design
Local News: KNIA/KRLS
Child Care Center: Stepping Stones Early Learning Center
Place to Work, Less than 50 employees: Kone Korner
Place to Work, 51-250 employees: Fareway-Knoxville
Place to Work, More than 250 employees: Weiler Corporation
Business Supporter Less than 50 employees: Peace Tree Brewing Company
Business Supporter 51-250 employees: Marion County Bank
Business Supporter More than 250 employees: Vermeer Corporation