Coeur d'Alene Children's Business Fair
Sunday, June 8, 2025
11:00AM - 2:00PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own business!
Children develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, 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 Steve Jobs or Sara Blakely 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.
Hosted by
Tonya Parker
🗓️ Started hosting in 2025
✅ Identity verified
🎉 First-time host
We are a family of entrepreneurs. There is nothing like coming up with and idea, doing the research and learning about it and seeing it to fruition. We are so excited to bring the joy of business ownership to all the go getter kids of North Idaho. This will be a great experience they can take into adulthood and onto bigger things.
26 booths participating
Sophia's Pearler Beads
Isla's Bracelets
And 24 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 children in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
The Acton Children's Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. The largest entrepreneurship event for children 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 60 businesses.
We will accept up to 60 businesses.
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.
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 if someone else has the same business idea?
Two crocheting businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out, competing business helps everyone grow in better products and variety for the customers.
What kind of items are allowed?
Anything handmade, created, designed by the kids. We do allow some baked goods but our main focus is non-food items or services that the kids create. Think Crafting/Artistic items.
Two crocheting businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out, competing business helps everyone grow in better products and variety for the customers.
What kind of items are allowed?
Anything handmade, created, designed by the kids. We do allow some baked goods but our main focus is non-food items or services that the kids create. Think Crafting/Artistic items.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be an outdoor event with booths consisting of a space for a 6ft table. We will fit as many as we can under the picnic shelter and then use the grass surrounding it for more booths. Each business will need to bring a folding table and chair. There will be some picnic tables there that can be used but because of the benches attached they may be hard for customers to get close to view the items on the table. Businesses must bring a table cloth as well.
The fair will be an outdoor event with booths consisting of a space for a 6ft table. We will fit as many as we can under the picnic shelter and then use the grass surrounding it for more booths. Each business will need to bring a folding table and chair. There will be some picnic tables there that can be used but because of the benches attached they may be hard for customers to get close to view the items on the table. Businesses must bring a table cloth as well.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
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.
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service.
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.
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.
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.
