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Thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our 2024 fair! We plan to announce details for our 2025 fair in the fall.
Ascent Academy Children's Business Fair Austin, TX
Saturday, December 6, 2025
3:00PM - 6:00PM
Applications are closed
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About the fair
The Ascent Children’s Business Fair
The Ascent Children's Business Fair aims to create a dynamic, real-world learning environment where children can experience the excitement and challenges of running a business. The Fair empowers children to discover their inner entrepreneur as they develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers to showcase their very own businesses to the public!
The Ascent Children’s Business Fair is open to the public. Whether you want to get a little holiday shopping done, support young entrepreneurs, or enjoy some family fun, we look forward to seeing you at the fair!
The Ascent Children’s Business Fair is open to the public. Whether you want to get a little holiday shopping done, support young entrepreneurs, or enjoy some family fun, we look forward to seeing you at the fair!
BIG changes for our 2024 fair!
For our 2024 fair, the Ascent Children’s Business Fair was thrilled to partner with The Downtown Austin Alliance to present our event during their Holiday Sing-Along Stroll! The Holiday Sing-Along & Stroll is a family friendly event presented by KUT,X and the Downtown Austin Alliance. Young entrepreneurs selected to participate in the Ascent Children’s Business Fair had the opportunity to sell their products and services from 3-6 pm at this vibrant Downtown celebration.
Participating in the Ascent Children’s Business Fair
This event is designed to provide children with the hands-on experience of creating, marketing, and selling their own products or services. Participants will engage in a fun and educational journey, tackling many of the same questions that any business owner may face, such as:
- What do I want to sell?
- Is there a demand for this product/service?
- How can I create this product/service?
- What skills do I need to create this product/service?
- Why should someone buy from my business instead of another with similar products/services?
- What materials do I need?
- Can I afford the start-up costs or do I need investors?
- How much do I need to sell to pay back my investors?
- How much should I charge?
- How can I entice customers?
- How should I decorate my booth?
- What is my marketing strategy?
- What are my goals?
- Should I operate alone or with other young entrepreneurs?
Through this comprehensive process, children gain valuable insights and skills that will serve them well in any future endeavors.
Businesses should be completely operated by the children. Parents should supervise their children and remain present, but the children should be responsible for all aspects, including customer interactions and sales. Parents may not run booths in their child’s absence.
Child business owners can consider partnering up with another young entrepreneur to help share the load of attending to their booth. Each business may have 1 to 3 child entrepreneurs.
Application Process
Applicants should carefully review our FAQ section before applying and be prepared to submit a detailed application, as we anticipate strong competition for spots. We highly recommend submitting your application as early as possible when applications open in the fall. Up to three children (aged 6-14 years old) may have a business together.
Important 2024 Dates
- September 5, 2024: Applications open for 2024 fair
- October 7, 2024: Applications close for 2024 fair
- Starting October 8, 2024: Applicants will begin to be notified of their application status and due dates for needed materials
- December 7, 2024: Day of the Fair!
(Our next fair will take place in December 2025. Important dates will be announced closer to the fair date).
Sponsoring the Ascent Children’s Business Fair
This amazing event would not be possible without the help of our generous sponsors. If you are interested in supporting the Ascent Children’s Business Fair as a sponsor, please email us at CBF@ascentacton.org for more information.
Hosted by
Samantha Jansky
🗓️ Started hosting in 2021
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 4 fairs
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ascent Children’s Business Fair?
The Ascent Children’s Business Fair (CBF) inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. During the one day marketplace, children have the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses to the public!
How many child businesses can participate?
The 2024 fair had 24 child created businesses selling their products and services to the public. The capacity for child businesses for our 2025 fair will be announced closer to the fair date.
Are there age requirements for the businesses?
In order to participate as a business owner, all entrepreneurs must be between 6 and 14 years old.
Can children apply as a group?
Yes. Children working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business. All business participants need to be between 6 and 14 years old.
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 participating.
Parents must supervise their children at all times, 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 on their own.
Does my child need to attend Ascent Academy in order to participate as a business at the fair?
No, attending Ascent Academy is not a condition to participate. Any child between 6 and 14 years old can submit an application.
Is the fair/marketplace open to the public?
Yes, the fair/marketplace is open and FREE to the public to attend!
Is there a fee to participate as a business?
Yes, each business is charged a $20 participation fee.
What if it rains on the day of the fair?
The fair is open rain or shine. If your child is selected to participate as a vendor, please come prepared to remain open through the elements.
When does the application window open for the 2025 fair?
The fair is open rain or shine. If your child is selected to participate as a vendor, please come prepared to remain open through the elements.
When does the application window open for the 2025 fair?
Applications for the 2025 fair will open in the fall of 2025.
What if my child wants to participate as a business at the fair? How does my child apply to have their business at the fair?
During open registration, applications must be submitted online. Once registration is open, click the "APPLY TO THE FAIR" button on the homepage of our website. Please only submit one application per business.
*IMPORTANT: submitting an application is just part one of our process to obtain a spot at the fair. If your child submits an application, please monitor your email for additional information.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair is an outdoor event with covered booth space. Each business will be given approximately a 10x10 covered space with a table and 2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. Each business is responsible for decorating their own booth.
