Acton Children's Business Fair McLean, Virginia
Saturday, September 16, 2023
1:00PM - 4:00PM
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About the fair
Thank you for the enthusiasm to be part of our wonderful event. We are currently at capacity, but if you request to get on our contact list, we will make sure to let you know of any last-minute cancellations and any upcoming event! Meanwhile, come and visit us at the Fair that will be held in conjunction with the McLean annual block party. We promise a lot of fun!
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 the very first annual event at the McLean Old Firehouse Center on Saturday, September 16, from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. This event will be held in conjunction with the Old Firehouse Center annual Fall Block Party. So expect a great turnout with lots of fun for everyone!
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
Yajuan Lu
🗓️ Started hosting in 2023
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 3.9 (8)
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, mentors, and parents from the McLean, VA, area, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way. Reach out if you are interested in being part of the growing team!
52 booths participating
Snack Shack
River Khai beads
And 50 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 kids in North America, this half-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 a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a table (to share with one other business), and 1-2 chairs. Tablecloths will not be provided. Entrepreneurs are advised to bring their own umbrellas (but not full-size tents due to space constraint) if needed.
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 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.
