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Canada Day, July 1st, 2023 join us in Hall's Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada as Spinazola & Associates Launches the 3RD Annual Kidtrepreneur Business Fair
Acton Children's Business Fair Halls Harbour, Canada
Saturday, July 1, 2023
10:00AM - 3:00PM
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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children and youth 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.
We will host 4 (8foot tables) with 2 business at each table for a total of 8 vendors.
We launch the Kidtrepreneur Fair off the Wharf here in Hall's Harbour Kings County Nova Scotia, so be sure to bring a jacket or sweater as the breezes off the Bay of Fundy are often cool even on the hottest days.
We launch the Kidtrepreneur Fair off the Wharf here in Hall's Harbour Kings County Nova Scotia, so be sure to bring a jacket or sweater as the breezes off the Bay of Fundy are often cool even on the hottest days.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, 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 Elon Musk or 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.
Hosted by
Madonna Spinazola
🗓️ Started hosting in 2022
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 4 fairs
Madonna Spinazola, MBA – Chief Encourager of Big Dreams (Even the Pint-Sized Ones!)
Madonna Spinazola is no ordinary entrepreneur—she’s a powerhouse of purpose with a knack for lifting others up, whether it's through business smarts, community spirit, or creative flair. A lifelong volunteer and visionary, Madonna’s passion truly sparked when her granddaughter decided to start painting rocks—yes, rocks!—to sell in their beloved 120+ year-old General Store in Hall’s Harbour. Her goal? To help her dad buy school supplies. (Cue the proud tears.)
With a heart full of pride and paint-splattered stones, Madonna and her husband, professional photographer Dick Killam, saw something special. They rolled up their sleeves, helped nurture this tiny business dream, and soon realized: if one little girl had such big entrepreneurial energy, why not create a space for more young creators to shine?
And just like that, the Kidtrepreneur Business Fair was born in 2021—thanks to Madonna’s spark, a dash of research (hello, Children’s Business Organization!), and generous sponsorship from Spinazola & Associates and Parker’s General Store.
This joyful annual event gives youth the chance to dream, create, and launch their own mini-businesses—from homemade crafts to clever solutions for everyday problems. Madonna believes kids are natural entrepreneurs—they just need the opportunity and support to explore their ideas.
Though she’s been the driving force behind the fair (with a little help from friends at the Hants Kings Business Development Corporation and the Town of Kentville Mentoring Plus group), Madonna dreams of growing the event with even more workshops, mentors, and magic. She’s on the lookout for partners, sponsors, and big-hearted business folks who want to inspire the next generation of change-makers.
Once a year, the Kidtrepreneur Fair becomes a celebration of creativity, courage, and kid-sized business savvy—because every young dream deserves a chance to shine!
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 8 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 on the wharf in Hall's Harbour, Nova Scotia. Each business will be given an 8-foot table (to share with one other business), and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
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 and youth Sthe 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.
