Mayor Christian Price (center) was on hand to accept Maricopa's third Battle of the Burbs contest in 2016. Photo by William Lange

Maricopa is returning to Battle of the Burbs competition this year.

After winning radio station Mix 96.9’s contest for the best suburban community in the Phoenix Metro area in 2014, 2015 and 2016, Maricopa was asked to step aside for a year to give someone else a chance. Now Maricopa is back in the competition, and voting begins Monday.

Besides bragging rights, the winner gets a free concert.

Communities win by garnering online votes throughout a 25-city, tournament-like bracket. Residents can vote daily on every device at www.BattleoftheBurbs.com March 26-April 2. The winner will be announced April 2, and the concert by an as-yet-unnamed band would tentatively be April 13.

In Maricopa’s winning years, bands were The Summer Set, Divided Minds and Lifehouse, performing at Copper Sky with other community entertainment.

Voting in the 25-city bracket is Feb. 26-March 4. Top 16 voting is March 5-12. Top 8 voting is March 12-19, Fab 4 voting is March 19-26, and the Championship round voting is March 26-April 2.

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