Acton Children's Business Fair Topeka event image

Acton Children's Business Fair Topeka

Saturday, November 7, 2026

9:00AM - 1:00PM

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Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center

2114 Southwest Chelsea Drive, Topeka, KS 66614, US

Electricity available

Electricity notes - extension cords are limited, please bring some if you require electricity

Applications open 🏁

Apply for a booth RSVP as a shopper

The host reviews every application and replies by email.

About the fair
Acton Children's Business Fair is 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 heroes across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
Hosted by

Val Thornburg

🗓️ Started hosting in 2026

✅ Identity verified

🎉 First-time host

16 booths participating

Rhys’s 3D Pieces

Rosemarie & Company

And 14 others.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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. More than 3 participants per business is a bit like too many chefs in a kitchen, but we're happy to welcome groups who exceed that amount if have their division of labor worked out.

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.

The fair will be held inside Fairlawn Plaza. There will be a map of the space distrubuted to vendors signed up by September 1st, so they can share their preferred locations with us. We will honor preferences to the best of our ability! Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table and 1-4 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We wish we could provide these, but we embrace the opportunities inherent in entrepreneurs designing their own table coverings.

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 want the children to have the opportunity to do as much as possible themselves.

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.

Yes. We will charge a $1 fee per booth to participate in the fair, payable at noon on the day of the fair (with profits you make that day!). This is to incentivize our young entrepreneurs to value their booth space as an investment and to make the most of it by planning early to earn that first dollar in profits!

Our incredible sponsors

Children's Business Fair

Acton Academy

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