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Acton Children's Business Fair Frederick, MD
Saturday, November 1, 2025
12:00PM - 3:00PM
Applications open soon
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About the fair
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.
We will host up to 100 businesses at the 4th annual event in Downtown Frederick, MD on Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 12:00-3:00 pm. We will be setting up along Carroll Creek, across from the C. Burr Artz Library located at 110 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701.
The fair is open to children 6-17 years old, or up to 12th grade for Frederick County Public School students.
The fair is open to children 6-17 years old, or up to 12th grade for Frederick County Public School students.
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.
This event is being coordinated by the Global STEM + AR Outreach Foundation, Inc, whose mission is to promote awareness, stimulate interest, support, and make available engaging interdisciplinary activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Arts, and Reading.
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.
Please make sure you read all the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Please make sure you read all the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Hosted by
Damaris Ponciano-Jackson
🗓️ Started hosting in 2021
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 4.9 (21 reviews)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneurs. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids 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 entrepreneurs. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids 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 100 businesses.
We will accept up to 100 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.
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?
The 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.
The 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:
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 jewelry businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out.
Two jewelry businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out.
Edible items?
Per the Health Department, Children can sell prepackaged food such as chips, sodas, and water purchased at a reliable store such as "Costco, Sam's Club, or Walmart." Please note that the food can not be opened and served. It has to be handed packaged and sealed. Please note that limited "homemade" edible items may be sold, but you are fully responsible to follow all the city/county requirements.
*If your child already has a food selling license for Frederick City, we will need a copy, and if approved, your child can sell their food items.
No edible animal items are permitted.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be an outdoor event. Each business will share a 6 to 10-foot table with another business. Each business will be provided with 1-2 chairs. Tents will not be permitted. Tablecloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
The fair will be an outdoor event. Each business will share a 6 to 10-foot table with another business. Each business will be provided with 1-2 chairs. Tents will not be permitted. Tablecloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the businesses.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the businesses.
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.
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 at the table with their children, but the children should be responsible for setting up, customer interaction, and sales.
Parents may help their children 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.
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.
