Parade and Steller Launch Nationwide Search for America's Favorite Small Towns

Rhea-AI Summary

Parade (NYSE: AREN) and Steller announced the America's Favorite Small Towns Competition on October 15, 2025, a nationwide contest for towns with populations under 250,000 ahead of the 2026 U.S. 250th anniversary.

The multi-platform initiative opens for entries now, with consumer voting beginning in November 2025. Participating towns receive exposure across Parade and Steller channels to an estimated 130 million potential travelers. Early entries: the first 200 submissions waive the entry fee. Finalists and the winner receive print coverage in Parade, a C4 cover for the overall winner, a “Favorite Small Town in America” badge, and a Parade x Steller July 4 activation in the winning town.

Insights

Small-town marketing strategist

Partnership-driven marketing push gives small towns national exposure ahead of the 250th anniversary, with measurable reach and definable activation mechanics.

The collaboration between Parade and Steller creates a multi-platform competition that places participating towns on a Parade landing page and uses Steller Connect to link inspiration to booking. The program promises exposure to over 130 million potential travelers, finalist coverage in a Parade print special, a C4 cover for the overall winner, a branded badge/signage, and a Parade x Steller activation on July 4th tied to national media and sponsor activity.

Key dependencies and risks include towns' ability to mobilize submissions (the first 200 entries waive the fee), the execution quality of the landing-page booking integration, and whether the promised reach converts into actual visitation or bookings. The release explicitly cites projected domestic travel metrics for 2026—about 730 million trips and $920 billion in leisure travel spending—which frames the opportunity but does not guarantee capture of that demand.

Watch for the start of consumer voting in November, the list of finalists that will appear in the Parade special issue, and the activation plans for July 4th as concrete milestones to assess campaign traction over the next 8–12 months. The announcement increases visibility for small towns and clarifies the promotional mechanics; its ultimate impact depends on voter engagement, integration performance, and follow-through on the print and event activations.

Parade and Steller team up to highlight must-visit small town destinations across the U.S. in a competition to mark America 250 

KIRKLAND, Wash., Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Parade, one of America's most-loved national media brands for over 80 years, and Steller, the travel platform that connects travel videos to trip planning, marketing and booking, today announced the America's Favorite Small Towns Competition. The nationwide competition will shine a spotlight on the unique character of small communities with populations under 250,000 leading up to the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.  

American travel within the U.S. will near 730 million trips in 2026. America's Favorite Small Towns Competition—a multi-platform initiative designed to help travelers discover the truly unique hidden gems across the country—is an opportunity for small towns to get in front of millions of people before they begin planning those trips when consumer voting begins in November. The program will be supported by Parade and Steller across digital, social, print, and PR channels nationwide. All participating towns will be featured on a dedicated landing page on Parade.com, which will utilize Steller Connect's embeddable trip-planning technology to seamlessly link travelers from inspiration to booking.   

How America's Favorite Small Towns Competition Helps Small Towns  

By participating in the competition, small towns receive exposure to over 130 million potential travelers through Parade.com, Steller.co, and on their combined social channels. Additional exposure and prizes for finalists and the winning town include:   

• Coverage in Parade's "Favorite Small Towns in America" special print issue (all finalists) 
• The coveted C4 cover placement in a Parade special print issue (overall winner) 
• The ability to promote the achievement with the "Favorite Small Town in America" badge and signage (overall winner) 
• A special Parade x Steller activation at the winning town's July 4th festivities, which will include potential celebrity involvement, sponsor giveaways, and national media coverage.  

How to Enter America's Favorite Small Towns Competition 

Any town with a population under 250,000 is invited to enter now at americasfavoritesmalltowns.parade.com/. The first 200 submissions will have their entry fee waived, so towns are encouraged to enter early. States and DMOs may enter on behalf of their communities.  

"Parade has been supporting and celebrating local communities for more than 80 years, beginning with our partnerships with local newspapers," said Lisa Delaney, General Manager and Chief Content Officer of Parade. "By partnering with Steller to launch the America's Favorite Small Towns Competition, Parade is continuing our legacy of showcasing local stories and connecting our readers to the heart of small-town America."  

"Many of the country's greatest tourism assets are in small towns and communities; they are the fabric of our country," said Steller CEO Pete Bryant. "Yet, small towns struggle to reach travelers due to budget constraints and lack of marketing resources. The America's Favorite Small Towns Competition is designed to help small towns gain the visibility they need and deserve."  

Domestic leisure travel is projected to generate more than $920 billion in 2026, according to a report from the U.S. Travel Association. The America's Favorite Small Towns Competition aims to help small towns capture their fair share of that spending. Tourism drives job creation, supports infrastructure investments, and provides a powerful boost to related industries.   

DMOs, CVBs, and small towns: Don't miss your chance to put your community on the map and attract new visitors this year. Submit your town now at americasfavoritesmalltowns.parade.com/.  

About Steller   
Steller, headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., is the market leading travel planning platform that guides travelers from inspiration to planning and booking through authentic experiences of their favorite creators. Steller's patent pending platform distributes millions of pieces of bespoke, worldwide video content that can be found and booked on the Steller app. Learn more at www.steller.co and stellerforbusiness.com.  

About Parade  
Parade, the premium legacy entertainment and lifestyle brand, has been enlightening, delighting and inspiring audiences for more than 80 years. Parade is owned and operated by The Arena Group (NYSE American: AREN), an innovative technology platform and media company with a proven cutting-edge playbook that transforms media brands. Arena's unified technology platform empowers creators and publishers with tools to publish and monetize their content, while also leveraging quality journalism of anchor brands like TheStreet, Parade, Men's Journal and Athlon Sports to build their businesses. The company aggregates content across a diverse portfolio of brands, reaching over 100 million users monthly. Visit us at thearenagroup.net and discover how we are revolutionizing the world of digital media. 

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SOURCE Steller

FAQ

What is the eligibility for Parade and Steller's America's Favorite Small Towns competition (AREN)?

Any U.S. town with population under 250,000 can enter; states and DMOs may enter on behalf of communities.

When does consumer voting start for the America's Favorite Small Towns competition (AREN)?

Consumer voting is scheduled to begin in November 2025.

How much exposure will participating towns get from the Parade x Steller contest (AREN)?

Participating towns are promoted across Parade and Steller channels to an estimated 130 million potential travelers.

What prizes does the overall winner receive in the America's Favorite Small Towns contest (AREN)?

The overall winner receives a Parade C4 cover placement, the “Favorite Small Town in America” badge and signage, and a Parade x Steller July 4 activation with national media support.

Is there an entry fee waiver for Parade and Steller's small towns competition (AREN)?

Yes — the first 200 submissions will have their entry fee waived.

Where can towns submit entries for America's Favorite Small Towns (AREN)?

Towns can submit at americasfavoritesmalltowns.parade.com.