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Now Accepting Applications! Please read the notice on mask requirements due to COVID-19 before applying.
Acton Children's Business Fair Redding, CA
Saturday, May 22, 2021
9:00AM - 1:00PM
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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
We will host up to 50 booths at the 2nd annual event on the lawn at the Redding Civic Auditorium on May 22nd, 2021 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Who can attend?
Who can attend?
Entrepreneurs ages 4 to 16 may participate & open to the public to visit & shop.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
*COVID-19 Notice: As this event is being held on a City of Redding-owned property, all entrepreneurs must wear a mask in compliance with city and state mandates while selling their products. Please do not sign up to sell unless you are intending to wear a mask while serving customers.
*COVID-19 Notice: As this event is being held on a City of Redding-owned property, all entrepreneurs must wear a mask in compliance with city and state mandates while selling their products. Please do not sign up to sell unless you are intending to wear a mask while serving customers.
Hosted by
Rachel Sims
🗓️ Started hosting in 2019
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 6 fairs
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
30 booths participating
B&G Inc.
(Undecided)
And 28 others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
Who can attend?
Who can attend?
Entrepreneurs ages 4 to 16 may participate & open to the public to visit & shop.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 50 businesses.
Is there a fee to rent a booth at the fair?
Yes, we ask each booth to pay $20 to reserve their spot at the fair upon acceptance. This fee helps to cover a small portion of the costs to rent the facility, equipment, tents, tables, chairs, and insurance for the event. We ask that our entrepreneurs contribute to a portion of this cost as it is a real cost of doing business.
Is there a fee to rent a booth at the fair?
Yes, we ask each booth to pay $20 to reserve their spot at the fair upon acceptance. This fee helps to cover a small portion of the costs to rent the facility, equipment, tents, tables, chairs, and insurance for the event. We ask that our entrepreneurs contribute to a portion of this cost as it is a real cost of doing business.
Where should I begin?
Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
The application must be submitted online. Please submit one application for each business. Children working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business.
What is on the application?
The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:
- What product or service do you plan to sell?
- What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you?
- How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back?
- How will you advertise/market your business before the fair?
- At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
What if someone else has the same business idea?
Two cupcake businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out, though we will let later entries know if another applicant has a similar idea so the later entrant can decide what to do.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with a 6-foot table, full-cover tenting, and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. If a parent is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified from the competition.
Parents of younger children may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales.
Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.
Are masks required?
While we do not want to impinge on anyone's rights, our contract with the Redding Civic Auditorium requires that all entrepreneurs wear masks while serving the public. If you register to open a booth at the fair, you are agreeing to wear a mask while serving the public.
How did the Acton Children’s Business Fair get started?
Jeff and Laura Sandefer and a few other families wanted to spark a sense of wonder and entrepreneurship in their children so they created the first Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin, Texas, in 2007. That year, there were seven entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees. Now, there are over 115 entrepreneurs and 1,500 attendees at the Acton Children's Business Fair in Austin.
