📣 The 2024 fair was a huge success! Check out the video and photos below. Applications will open in January 2025 for the October 2025 fair! Check back then.
Hosted by

Kristen McKiernan

🗓️ Started hosting in 2021

Identity verified

⭐️ 4.6 (16 reviews)

We are a local Avila Beach family and community of passionate entrepreneurs, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
📣 The 2024 fair was a huge success! Check out the video and photos below. Applications will open in January 2025 for the October 2025 fair! Check back then.
Pending confirmation

Avila Beach Children's Business Fair - Avila Beach, CA

Saturday, October 11, 2025

10:00AM - 1:00PM

Avila Beach Community Center

191 San Miguel St, Avila Beach, CA 93424, USA

Applications are closed

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About the fair
** We’re thrilled to announce that the video of the 2024 Avila Beach Children's Business Fair is here! **

Watch the video now and celebrate the hard work and talent of these incredible kids!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE 2024 VIDEO

https://vimeo.com/1021975041?share=copy 

CHECK OUT THE 2024 FAIR PHOTOS HERE:
https://itschrispix.pixieset.com/abcbf2024/

Videos!
View the 4-minute video above to see what the 2024 Children's Business Fair looked like and get some ideas for booths and businesses. See the video links below from previous years' fairs courtesy of videographer Chris McKiernan and CMcK Creative, Inc.

2023
Video - https://vimeo.com/877365083

2022
Slideshow - https://vimeo.com/764028824
Video - https://vimeo.com/775686840

2021
Slideshow - https://vimeo.com/637740560
Video - https://vimeo.com/637739161

Our 4th annual fair will be at the same venue. 2024 is the fourth year our family is hosting one in Avila Beach. The past years fairs were a a huge success for all involved and the videos will give you a good idea of what the fair looks like and what children might be selling. 

About the Fair!
Come join us to observe the opportunity for children 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.

The fair is free to attend and participate in and open to the public. The kids get to keep all the money they make! 

We will host 80 booths (we are growing each year!) at the 4th annual event in downtown Avila Beach at the outside Garden area of the Avila Beach Community Center on Saturday, October 12th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

This event is hosted by the McKiernan family and the space is donated by the Avila Beach Community Center and the support of community sponsors. 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.

2022 Avila Beach Children's Business Fair Slide Show
https://vimeo.com/775686840 

2021 Avila Beach Children's Business Fair Slide Show
https://vimeo.com/637740560

 
Hosted by

Kristen McKiernan

🗓️ Started hosting in 2021

Identity verified

⭐️ 4.6 (16 reviews)

We are a local Avila Beach family and community of passionate entrepreneurs, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Avila Beach Children’s Business Fair?

The Avila Beach Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. 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 80 businesses (based on space and availability, this number could change)

Where should I begin? 

Start with watching the video on our home page to see what the fair looked like the past several years and what children were selling and how it was displayed. 

How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?

Applications 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. All applications are reviewed and applicants will be notified if they are selected to participate. Applicants are selected by host based on several different criteria. Unfortunately we always receive more applications than space allows for but you will automatically be added to the waitlist if you don't get in.

RULES & GUIDELINES FOR ENTREPRENEURS:

The entrepreneur is responsible for the setup, sales and interacting with the customer. 

Age Categories: 6-8, 9-10, 11-13, and 14-17

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. Think of what sets your product apart in case this comes up. What is your differentiator? 

How will the fair be set up?

The fair will be an event with individual booths. Each business will be given a booth with an approximately 8-foot table (to share with one other business). Chairs will not be provided unless specifically requested on-site. Chairs are limited so please bring your own if you need a chair. Table cloths and booth business name display signs will be provided. The fair is outside in the garden area of the Avila Community Center.  Shopping bags will be will be provided on a first come first service basis to shoppers, so if businesses want to ensure shoppers have bags, please have some extras on hand and be prepared to provide them. 

Will there be restrooms at the facility?
Yes, there are restrooms on the second floor of the facility

Parking?

Parking is very limited in Avila Beach. DO NOT park in the back post office parking lot. This should be only used for an unloading and loading zone for business owners when setting up and breaking down. Please park, and encourage shoppers, to park in the public pay lot. There may be some street parking available but that is also limited. 

Will electricity be available?

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the majority of booths. *If you MUST have electricity, please contact us to see if we can make special arrangements but electricity is not guaranteed .

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.

Business owners are responsible for all monetary transactions.

Prizes:
There will be prizes offered to selected booths and age groups.

AWARD PROCESS & CRITERIA
 
An awards ceremony will be held immediately following the Children’s Business Fair. 
 
All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged by fellow entrepreneurs on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity.
 
Cash prizes of $50 per category and age group (to be split among the business owners) will be presented at the conclusion of the fair.
 
JUDGING: 
 
Four judges will walk around the event to judge the various businesses on the following categories

·         Most Original Business Idea 

·         Highest Business Potential

·         Best Presentation / Creativity

There will be a winner in each age group and category.
All participants will be recognized with a participation certificate for participating at the fair. We will have a raffle drawing for all attendees. Prize announcements and raffle drawing are planned on being announced at the end of the fair. 

Will food or drinks be sold at the fair?
No vendor/fair sponsored food or drinks will be sold at the fair (other than those sold by children's booths as part of their fair business). We will be providing free bottle waters and popcorn to all attendees and booth participants. 

*All FAQs are subject to change, if you have specific questions please direct those to kkmckiernan@gmail.com 

Our incredible sponsors

Children's Business Fair

Acton Academy

Next Great Adventure

Avila Beach Civic Association

AccuZIP, Inc.

Central Coast State Parks Association

State Farm - Susan Rodriguez

SLO Provisions

New Times

Avila Beach Community Foundation

Paine Financial Services

Central Coast Aquarium

Phil, Jenny and Brielle Barlow - Friends of the Fair

County of San Luis Obispo

Postal

Mersea's

James McKiernan Lawyers