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Registration opening September 2025!
Ottawa Children's Market
Saturday, November 22, 2025
10:00AM - 1:00PM
Applications are closed
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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.
The 4th annual Ottawa Children's Market will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2025 from 10 am – 1 pm.
This event is sponsored by ARC Studio School, Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of local donors and volunteers.
Registration for the 2025 Market:
Registration will open in September 2025.
Registration for the 2025 Market:
Registration will open in September 2025.
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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.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
Applications 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.
Is there a fee?
No, there is no vendor fee.
Is there a fee?
No, there is no vendor fee.
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 Market, 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, but we will let later entries know if another applicant has a similar idea so the later entrant can decide whether or not to change their business idea.
How will the Market be set up?
The Market will be an indoor event. Each business will be given a 5 to 6-foot table and 1 to 2 chairs. Tablecloths will not be provided. A very limited number of electrical outlets are available for businesses requiring electricity (allocated on a first come-first served basis when registering).
Will electricity be available?
There are a very limited number of electrical outlets available for businesses requiring electricity (allocated on a first come-first served basis when registering).
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 are responsible for set up, customer interactions, and sales.
Parents may help their child fill out the application but we expect children to do as much as possible by themselves.
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.
