📣
Registration is open for our 2023 event! Must register by Tuesday, Sept 26th to be guaranteed an event t-shirt for kids. Sunday, October 15, 2023 located at North Ridgewood Pumpkin Patch Festival & Children's Business Fair!
Children's Business Fair 2023 - Pumpkin Patch Street Festival Sunday, Oct 15, 2023
Sunday, October 15, 2023
12:00PM - 3:00PM
This fair has ended
Find another fair
About the fair
Children's Museum of the Highlands want to support the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! Join us for our 2nd annual Children's Business Fair during our community Pumpkin Patch Party! Sponsored by the Blackmon Family of Harder Hall. Must register by Tuesday, Sept 2th to be guaranteed an event t-shirt for kid partipates.
Kids develop a idea/brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
Event will run during the Pumpkin Patch Party event at the Children's Museum and on North Ridgewood Drive street frontage on Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 12noon to 3pm. Registration fee $10 due at event check-in. Setup is to begin at 11am. Children vendors will be able to sell their services/products from 12noon to 3pm. At 3pm, we will have an awards ceremony.
This event is co-sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, the Children's Museum of the Highlands and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Hosted by
Kelly Dressel
🗓️ Started hosting in 2022
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 4.6 (10)
The Children's Museum of the Highlands wants to encourage and support our children in learning about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way. We cannot wait to see our community of kids BIG idea!
30 booths participating
Sisters Create
Doggone Sweets
And 28 others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Children’s Business Fair?
The Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. We are partnered with Acton, 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 40 kid ran businesses. Child must sign up, organize, produce and sell with minimal adult assistance.
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 the cost to participate?
Each participate business has a $10 registration fee that goes to booth space rental. Registration fee is due the day of the event before you set up.
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 entries know if another applicant has a similar idea and decide whether or not to duplicate that business model or adjust their own.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be an outdoor event with kid ran booths. Each business will be given a booth space to decorate as they wish. Vendors are responsible for their own tables, tents and chairs. Children's Museum has some tents available for rental at first come, first served. There is NO electricity at any of the booths.
The morning of the event you will check in with Children's Museum staff, pay your registration fee ($10) and get your booth location. Setup and check in will begin at 11am. We ask for all booths to be ready by 12noon. All participates are asked to stay with their booths until 3pm. Awards ceremony will be around 3:30pm.
The morning of the event you will check in with Children's Museum staff, pay your registration fee ($10) and get your booth location. Setup and check in will begin at 11am. We ask for all booths to be ready by 12noon. All participates are asked to stay with their booths until 3pm. Awards ceremony will be around 3:30pm.
I have other questions. Where can I go for help?
The Children's Museum of the Highlands is hosting a workshop to answer questions, help with online signups, brainstorming ideas and more! The Children's Business Fair Workshop is Thursday, Sept. 21st from 4:30pm to 6:00pm. Workshop will be a drop in style event where you can come, ask questions, get help anytime during the workshop. We'll be glad to help!
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.
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.
