By Lookout Staff

February 3, 2016 -- It’s that time of year again, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner and Santa Monica’s businesses leaders asking residents a heart-filled question once again: Which local businesses do you consider real sweethearts?

For the third year, Santa Monica is devoting February to its “Most Loved Businesses Downtown” competition.

Sponsored by Buy Local Santa Monica, a group of downtown merchants, the event asks which downtown businesses can you absolutely not live without, or that invariably puts a smile on your face when you drop in.

To vote, visit www.buylocalsantamonica.com. Look for the giant Valentine to cast your vote. Voting takes place all through the rest of February.

The Most Loved competition is part of a broader campaign to convince the public to frequent local shops.

It is meant to build both the local economy and sense of community in Santa Monica, as well as to serve a guide for tourists who want to soak in the community’s true ambience.

Winners will be celebrated throughout the year as part of Buy Local Santa Monica festivities. Prizes include gift certificates from local businesses, Buy Local SM T-Shirts and Buy Local reusable bags.

Last year’s “Most Loved” contest attracted a record 3,000 voters, and the winners were an eclectic group that included an art gallery with a gift shop selling only locally crafted wares, a surfboard shops and a cycle “pathic” fitness center.

This year’s competition includes 26 categories as far-ranging as Most Loved fitness/pilates/yoga/dance studio and art gallery/gift store to Most Loved hotel/motel for a Staycation and Most Loved locally-owned independent business.

There are also categories for kid-friendly and pet-friendly businesses, auto-related shops, bike-centric stores and Most Loved Farmers Market prepared food vendor, among many others.