FOXES Children's Business Fair
Saturday, October 25, 2025
2:00PM - 5:00PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
The FOXES, INC Children's Business Fair (Fostering Opportunities for Xceptional Entreprenueral Stars) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting children entreprenuers. FOXES, Inc provides an 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. (Website - FOXES Inc.)
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.
I, Naman Gupta, am passionate about fostering these exceptional qualities from youth. This will be the 4th fair I host. Each fair has been a great success. I have provided a platform to over 75 youth entreprenuers (over 3 fairs) to showcase their abilities. I am looking forward to the next fair!
I, Naman Gupta, am passionate about fostering these exceptional qualities from youth. This will be the 4th fair I host. Each fair has been a great success. I have provided a platform to over 75 youth entreprenuers (over 3 fairs) to showcase their abilities. I am looking forward to the next fair!
Hosted by
Mukti Gupta
🗓️ Started hosting in 2024
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 5.0 (3)
28 booths participating
J's Halloween Cereal Bars
Aiden Adams
And 26 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 35 businesses.
How much will the entry fee be?
The entry fee will be $20 and it will be due by September 25th. The Venmo/Paypal details will be shared once your application is approved.
What should be the age of the applicants?
We will accept applicants from ages 5-15.
What will the time frame be?
Setup times: 1-2 pm
Event time: 2-5 pm
Take down: 5-5:30 pm
What will the presentation and judging involve?
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged by local entrepreneurs on a variety of criteria. This will be an oppurtunity for each participant to shine! They will get a chance to "pitch" their business plan and showcase their products. Theme - STEM and AI in Business. We would love to know how entrepreneurs are using STEM and AI in their businesses - from creating their plan, making the product, advertising and marketing, collecting payments to calculating their profit and loss. Prizes will be awarded for "Highest Business Potential" and "Best Presentation/Creativity" for each age band. An awards ceremony will be held towards the end of the Fair.
Where will the fair be held?
The fair will be held in an indoor space at Locally Crafted Workshop in Rio, Gaithersburg. Its a beautiful space with high ceilings and large windows. The fair will be at the same time as an outdoor fair being hosted by Locally Crafted. The fair will draw crowds from the outdoor fair.
Where can we park?
Rio has plenty of free parking - street parking, a parking lot next to Kohl's and a parking lot opposite Target. If the lots are full, you are responsilbe for finding parking in other spots. Please unload your car in between Kohl's and Locally Crafted Workshop and then go and park.
Can we sell food and beverages?
Yes, you may sell food items that are individually wrapped/packaged. All food and beverages must include inforamtion about the ingredients used.
Will pets be allowed?
No, since it is an indoor space, no pets or live animals are permitted.
Who are "Locally Crafted Workshop"?
Locally Crafted Workshop, a women-owned small business located at the Rio shopping center in Gaithersburg, is a large community space hosting arts & crafts workshops, parties, and private events. For more information, please visit our website www.LocallyCraftedWorkshop.com.
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 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.
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 indoor event with tables. Each business will bring their own 6-foot table and 1-2 chairs. Please bring your own table cloth. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
The fair will be an indoor event with tables. Each business will bring their own 6-foot table and 1-2 chairs. Please bring your own table cloth. 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 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.
Who were the sponsors at our previous fairs?
Our generous sponsors gave away gift cards/gift certificates/coupons/food and more! We cant thank them enough. Below is the list of our previous fair's sponsors.
Special shout out to: Down to Business: Our regular sponsor has been the book "Down to Business" by Fenley Scurlock and Jason Liaw. Fifteen-year-olds Fenley Scurlock and Jason Liaw had both started businesses by the time they'd reached middle school. In this groundbreaking book, these young entrepreneurs interview leaders involved with brand-name businesses like MasterClass, Hallmark, IKEA, Parachute, and more.
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.
Who were the sponsors at our previous fairs?
Our generous sponsors gave away gift cards/gift certificates/coupons/food and more! We cant thank them enough. Below is the list of our previous fair's sponsors.
Special shout out to: Down to Business: Our regular sponsor has been the book "Down to Business" by Fenley Scurlock and Jason Liaw. Fifteen-year-olds Fenley Scurlock and Jason Liaw had both started businesses by the time they'd reached middle school. In this groundbreaking book, these young entrepreneurs interview leaders involved with brand-name businesses like MasterClass, Hallmark, IKEA, Parachute, and more.
Photography Release: The property venue has asked us to confirm that you understand that by participating in this Fair you agree to the "Photographing, Recording, Reproduction or Transmission of Event" provision listed below, which they require to include in all of their event contracts. Thank you!
Photographing, Recording, Reproduction or Transmission of Event: The fair participant agrees the property manager shall have the right and is authorized to photograph, record, reproduce or otherwise transmit the fair/event without the written permission of the fair participant. Furthermore, the property manager shall be permitted to (i) reproduce, use, re-use, copy, modify/create derivatives in whole or in part, or otherwise use the recorded or documented fair/event or any part thereof in combination with or as a composite of other matter, including, but not limited to, text, data, images, photographs, illustrations, animation and graphics, video or audio segments of any nature, in any media or embodiment, now known or hereafter to become known, including, but not limited to, all formats of print, computer readable electronic magnetic, digital laser or optical-based media (the "Works") for any purpose whatsoever; (ii) use and permit to be used the name of the fair participant, whether in original or modified form, in connection with the Works as property manager may choose, and (iii) display, perform, exhibit, distribute, transmit or broadcast the fair/event by any means now known or hereafter to become known.
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.
