Springboard's Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market event image
📣 Applications Are OPEN! Follow our Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date.

Springboard's Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market

Saturday, October 4, 2025

12:00PM - 3:00PM

Fanto Park

445 E 7th Ave, Durango, CO 81301, USA

Currently accepting applications 🏁

Apply to the fair
About the fair
Join the Springboard: Youth Arts and Entrepreneurship Program's 2nd Annual Durango Youth Arts Festival and Makers Market for a day filled with arts and youth entrepreneurship!

Springboard's Youth Makers Market is a unique one-day youth marketplace during our Durango Youth Arts Festival. The Makers Market showcases local Youthpreneurs between 8-18 years of age representing a range of elementary, middle, and high schools from the local school district, homeschoolers and 4 Corners areas participating in Springboard: Youth Arts & Entrepreneurship Program. Participants are encouraged to creating a product or services, develop their own brand, build a marketing strategy and utilize their communication skills while interacting with potential customers at the one-day marketplace!   
 
Springboard: Youth Arts and Entrepreneurship Program offer's pre-event free community workshop to boost youth financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills.  Follow our Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date regarding free pre-event offerings.

Join the email list for application opening dates, newsletter or if you have questions about accessibility email us two weeks prior to the festival so that we have time to respond to your questions! 

Email Springboard.YAEP@gmail.com becoming a volunteer or event sponsor.

¡Únete al segundo Festival Anual de Arte Juvenil y Mercado de Creadores de Springboard: Programa de Arte y Emprendimiento Juvenil de Durango para disfrutar de un día lleno de arte y emprendimiento juvenil!


El Mercado de Creadores Juveniles de Springboard es un mercado juvenil único de un día de duración que se celebra durante nuestro Festival de Arte Juvenil de Durango. El Makers Market muestra a jóvenes emprendedores locales de entre 8 y 18 años que representan a una variedad de escuelas primarias, secundarias y preparatorias del distrito escolar local, estudiantes que reciben educación en casa y áreas de 4 Corners que participan en Springboard: Programa de Arte y Emprendimiento Juvenil. Se anima a los participantes a crear un producto o servicio, desarrollar su propia marca, crear una estrategia de marketing y utilizar sus habilidades de comunicación mientras interactúan con clientes potenciales en el mercado de un día.

Springboard: Youth Arts and Entrepreneurship Program ofrece un taller comunitario gratuito previo al evento para fomentar la educación financiera y las habilidades empresariales de los jóvenes. Siga nuestro Facebook o Instagram para mantenerse al día sobre las ofertas gratuitas previas al evento.


Únase a la lista de correo electrónico para conocer las fechas de apertura de las solicitudes, recibir el boletín informativo o, si tiene preguntas sobre la accesibilidad, envíenos un correo electrónico dos semanas antes del festival para que tengamos tiempo de responder a sus preguntas.


Envíe un correo electrónico a Springboard.YAEP@gmail.com para convertirse en voluntario o patrocinador del evento.


Hosted by

Jennifer Fernandez

🗓️ Started hosting in 2024

Identity verified

⭐️ 5.0 (9)

Jennifer Fernandez is the community youth advocate and community event planner. From launching and participating in local non-profits, participating in community boards, a Native American Liaison in the school district and a NAPAC committee parent, Jennifer is always looking for ways to support her community youth.

20 booths participating

Introverted Crochet

Tiny treasures

And 18 others.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Durango Youth Makers Market?

The Youth Makers Market
is a unique one-day youth marketplace during the Springboard: YAEP's annual event the Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market. The Youth Makers Market will inspire youth to discover their inner entrepreneur. This one-day market gives youth the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses from arts, goods, or services! 

Local Youthpreneurs between 8-18 years of age in elementary, middle, and high schools from the local school districts, homeschoolers and 4 Corners surrounding school districts may participate.

How many businesses will you accept?

We will accept up to 45 businesses. Biz may have up to 3 partners, each  youth's legal guardian must fill out form once accepted the original biz application is approved. If you have more than 3, please email organizer to discuss exceptions.

Where should I begin?
Attend one of our pre-event workshops! Springboard is proud to offer FREE educational workshops to empower youth (ages 8-18) with the skills they need to succeed in business, art, and beyond!

Money Moves: Financial Literacy for Youth Entrepreneurs
Learn smart money skills — from budgeting startup costs to setting prices for your products!

Youth Entrepreneurs and the Makers Market
Get ready to launch! Learn marketing basics, branding, booth design, and event logistics to shine at the Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market.

Mentor Chats and Presentations
Connect with real artists and entrepreneurs, ask questions, and get inspired by local leaders!

These hands-on workshops build business skills, financial literacy, marketing savvy, and creative confidence.
Workshops are FREE and open to all community youth!

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

Application must be submitted online. Please submit one application for each business. Youth working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business. Once approved you will have 3 days to accept and make partispant payment of $10.00 per youth participating. If payment is not made within time limit, then your spot will be forfeited. 

Scholarships are available for those in need. Please email Springboard.YAEP@gmail.com for scholarship information.

What is on the application?

The application asks youth 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?  

We will limit each category so we do not have ten cupcake stands and so on, we will give you a chance to give your biz a niche or switch up product if you fall under this situation. 

How will the fair be set up?

The fair will be a tented outdoor event.  Each business will be responsible to bring a 6-foot table (or 8 foot to share with one other business), full-cover tenting with 40lb weights, and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. You will be responsible for your set up. Set up must stay within the 10x10 tent, max two businesses under one tent. 

If we are indoors, your space will be 6x4

If you need the above, we can help seek community sponsors to help with table and tents. Please email once accepted application if a sponsorship set ups is available. (limited supply) 

What are the rules? 

This event is designed to give youth the experience of selling a product or service. If a parent is found selling or promoting a youth’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified. Family business are not allowed.

Parents of younger youth may sit in the booth, but the youth should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales.

Parents may help their youth fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.

¿Qué incluye la solicitud?

La solicitud pide a los jóvenes que reflexionen sobre algunos elementos sencillos, pero importantes, de su negocio:

¿Qué producto o servicio piensas vender?

¿Qué precio cobrarás por cada producto/servicio? ¿Cuánto te costará cada producto/servicio?

¿Cómo pagarás los gastos de puesta en marcha? Si alguien te ayuda con los gastos de puesta en marcha, ¿cómo le devolverás el dinero?

¿Cómo promocionarás/comercializarás tu negocio antes de la feria?

Al final de la feria, ¿cómo determinarás si tu negocio ha sido un éxito?

¿Qué pasa si otra persona tiene la misma idea de negocio?

Limitaremos cada categoría para no tener diez puestos de magdalenas, etc. Te daremos la oportunidad de darle un nicho a tu negocio o cambiar de producto si te encuentras en esta situación.

¿Cómo se organizará la feria?

La feria será un evento al aire libre con carpas. Cada negocio será responsable de traer una mesa de 6 pies (o de 8 pies para compartir con otro negocio), una carpa con cobertura completa con pesas de 40 libras y 1-2 sillas. No se proporcionarán manteles. Usted será responsable de su montaje. El montaje debe permanecer dentro de la carpa de 10x10, con un máximo de dos negocios bajo una misma carpa.

Si estamos en un recinto cerrado, su espacio será de 6 x 4.

Si necesita lo anterior, podemos ayudarle a buscar patrocinadores en la comunidad para que le ayuden con las mesas y las carpas. Envíe un correo electrónico una vez aceptada la solicitud si hay disponibilidad de patrocinio. (oferta limitada)

Our incredible sponsors

Children's Business Fair

Acton Academy

Next Great Adventure

ROAR - La Plata County Health

Alpine Bank - Durango

Art Supply House

Durango Creative District

2025 Lodgers' Tax: Arts and Culture Funding

The HIVE

Know Your Dough Durango

Alpine Bank