Children's Business Fair, Fairfax City
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
4:30PM - 6:30PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
What is it?
- One-day entrepreneurship event for children aged 3-18 to launch their own business!
- Culmination of ideas and hard work from great young minds
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Experience for children to:
- create a product and build a brand
- build a marketing strategy and open for customers at our one-day marketplace
- engage in activities related to marketing, selling, counting money, and feeling accomplished!
Why participate?
- Your child will get a taste of entrepreneurship early in life which will help them flourish later on
- This experience will instill leadership, courage, perseverance, and responsibility into their hearts and minds
- They will experience the feeling of having full ownership and responsibility for their project
- All children will have the opportunity to sell their products and make real money
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. If you are interested in donating or becoming a sponsor, please contact the host!
Hosted by
Gowri Kirpalani
🗓️ Started hosting in 2025
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 5.0 (5)
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 do I apply?
Applicants must be between the ages of 3-18 on the event date. Follow three simple steps:
Applicants must be between the ages of 3-18 on the event date. Follow three simple steps:
- Review the fair details and confirm your availability
- Register your child / business online by clicking on "Apply to the fair"
- Start creating, inventing, and "entrepreneur"-ing :)
Can I apply as part of a group?
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.
Is there a prize?
Each business idea will have the opportunity to experience being an entrepreneur and earn some real cash. We will also have a friendly competition with additional cash prizes based on the following categories:
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.
Is there a prize?
Each business idea will have the opportunity to experience being an entrepreneur and earn some real cash. We will also have a friendly competition with additional cash prizes based on the following categories:
- most original business idea
- highest business potential
- best presentation / creativity
How will the fair be set up?
Each business will get a 6-foot table to be shared with another business. Table cloths are optional - please feel free to bring one if you would like. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Each business will get a 6-foot table to be shared with another business. Table cloths are optional - please feel free to bring one if you would like. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
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
Parents are encouraged to visit other booths as customers, engage with the children in conversations about their products, and make purchases as they would like.
Can I sponsor the event or make a donation?
Sponsors and donations are welcome. If you are interested, please contact the host. All donations will go toward location rental, event set-up, and prize money for the children (and will have no impact on the judges' decisions).
Can I sponsor the event or make a donation?
Sponsors and donations are welcome. If you are interested, please contact the host. All donations will go toward location rental, event set-up, and prize money for the children (and will have no impact on the judges' decisions).
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.
