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📣 We are currently accepting applications for the Columbia Children's Business Fair - Summer! Registration ends on May 31, 2018 at midnight.

Acton Children's Business Fair Columbia, SC

Saturday, June 23, 2018

9:00AM - 1:00AM

Soda City Market, 1500 Main Street

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About the fair
Macaroni Kid Columbia & Lexington is honored to host the Columbia Children's Business Fair - Summer in partnership with the Soda City Market on June 23, 2018 from 9 am – 1 pm. Space is limited, so register early to secure your child's spot.

Youth ages 6 to 17 years old will have an opportunity  to launch their very own startup business and showcase it to their family, friends and the Soda City community!  Vendors will develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace. 

The vendor booth fee will be$20 per child to join the fair.  Requiring this fee starts the learning process of investing in marketing as an entrepreneur! Submit payment at PayPal.Me/MacaroniKidColumbia/20

Approved vendors are REQUIRED to attend the Launch Event which will consist of preparing a business plan, figuring out how much they would like to make during the event, signing a contract with their parents for a loan to start their business and the terms of repayment and much more! Parents will be emailed an invoice to pay any applicable vendor fees once applications are received and approved. Participants must provide their own tables and chairs (parents should bring their own seating as well). 

Fees must be paid before the Launch Event on May 5, 2018 from 3 - 4 pm & 4 - 5 pm at Richland Library Main Rm 213, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Each vendor will receive a Certificate of Participation for being a part of the Columbia Children's Business Fair - Summer. All vendors will automatically be entered into the business competition by age group (6-9, 10-13, 14-17). 

Booths will be judged in three categories: 
  • Most original business
  • Highest business potential
  • Best presentation/creativity

Cash prizes of $50 per category and age group (to be split among the business owners) will be presented at the conclusion of the fair.

Current Sponsors: Acton Academy, Acton School of Business, Macaroni Kid Columbia, Macaroni Kid Lexington and Soda City Market 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 your entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk, 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.

Make sure you invite your family, friends and community to come out to support your business at the fair.  We never know which one of you budding business owners will be on Good Morning America!!

We are excited about the opportunity for local business sponsors to support this awesome fair full of aspiring entrepreneurs.  We are looking for sponsors to support this event in various ways: monetary sponsors, prizes for awards, gift cards, food and drinks for the youth participating, tent sponsorship, in-kind donations and any other way you would like to contribute.  Thank you in advance!  If interested please email jeanetted@macaronikid.com. 

Hosted by

Jeanette Dempsey

🗓️ Started hosting in 2017

🚀 Has hosted 2 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.

12 booths participating

Skin Candy

The Clay Boy

And 10 others.

Contact host

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 many businesses will you accept?

We will accept up to 50 businesses.

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?

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 an outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 10x10 foot booth space. Tables, chairs and table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity and generators will not be permitted.

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 interactions and sales.

Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the 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.

Will advertising for my child's business be provided prior to the event?
Yes, each business must provide a logo, description and photos of the child making their products in order to receive advertising on the Columbia Children's Business Fair Facebook page, Macaroni Kid Columbia  & Macaroni Kid Lexington social media pages.

Our incredible sponsors

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© 2025 Acton Children's Business Fair, by Acton Academy.

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy

The Acton Children's Business Fair does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin and admits and gives all hosts and participants access to the same rights, privileges, programs and activities.