McKinleyville Chamber to Honor Local Businesses at 2026 Member's Choice Awards Dinner

The McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2026 Member's Choice Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, March 27 at the Sapphire Palace inside Blue Lake Casino & Hotel, where nominees across multiple business categories will learn whether they've earned the top honor from their own peers.

The evening opens at 6 p.m. with a social hour featuring beverages from local wineries and breweries, transitions to a buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m., and reaches its centerpiece moment at 7:30 p.m. when the awards presentation begins. A live auction closes out the night.

This year's theme, "Deeply Rooted, Growing Together," frames the event around both continuity and momentum. "It honors the roots our members have built here while highlighting the new ideas, investments, and collaborations shaping McKinleyville's future," the Chamber stated on its website, adding that the theme connects directly to its strategic priorities of growth, advocacy, and connection.

What distinguishes the Member's Choice Awards from many business recognition events is its selection process: winners are chosen by their fellow Chamber members, not by a panel of judges or a committee of organizers. The Azalea Award carries an added layer of distinction, reserved for community members with exceptional records of long-term service and bestowed by past award recipients themselves.

Among the 2026 nominees announced so far, Eureka Natural Foods and Hooven & Co, Inc. are both in contention for Large Business of the Year. Full nominee lists for other categories are available through the Chamber. Last year's Large Business winner was McKinleyville ACE Home & Garden Center, while Frybread Love took Small Business of the Year, Redwood Community Pharmacy won Outstanding Customer Service, and Coast Central Credit Union earned Excellence in Community Service. Sea Goat Farmstand & Maker's Space claimed Non-Profit Business of the Year, To Diane with Love Cookie Co. won Home Based Business of the Year, Carol Clymo received the Ambassador of the Year honor, and Sara and Kevin Alto were named Azalea Award recipients.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now at mckinleyvillechamber.com. The Chamber can also be reached by phone at (707) 839-2449 or in person at 1640 Central Ave. in McKinleyville.