What if your 8-year-old could launch a business this weekend—and learn more in two days than in a semester of school?
That’s the magic of the Children’s Business Fair (CBF). It may look like rows of tables filled with handmade crafts, cookies, and creative inventions, but beneath the surface, something extraordinary is happening. Children are learning courage. They’re developing grit. They’re discovering what it means to take ownership of their ideas and turn them into reality.
And this November, that magic is happening right here in our community.
👉 Applications are now open for the Kennebunkport Children’s Business Fair, happening on November 22!
Learn more and apply at childrensbusinessfair.org/kennebunk-acton.
More Than a Lemonade Stand
On the surface, the CBF might remind you of a classic lemonade stand—but it’s much more than that. Each booth is a small experiment in entrepreneurship, creativity, and courage. Every young entrepreneur is responsible for imagining a product, creating it with their own hands, setting prices, designing marketing, and selling it to real customers.
And there’s one simple rule: no parent help.
That one rule changes everything. It forces kids to step up, problem-solve, and face the real-world challenges of running something on their own. Some kids will make a profit. Some might not sell as much as they hoped. But all of them walk away with something far more valuable—a sense of pride in what they built and the courage to try again.
Freedom + Responsibility = Confidence
At Acton Academy, we believe children are capable of far more than most adults imagine. When given freedom—and paired with real responsibility—they rise to the occasion. The CBF is a perfect reflection of that belief.
When a child creates something, markets it, and sees a customer smile as they make a sale, they learn lessons that no textbook can teach:
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Courage to put their ideas out into the world
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Perseverance when things don’t go as planned
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Resourcefulness to find creative solutions
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Confidence that they are capable of making an impact
As one Acton parent put it, “Freedom comes with great responsibility. Freedom’s not free.”
That’s exactly what kids experience at the fair.
Real Learning Through Real Work
Traditional education often separates “school” from “real life.” At the Children’s Business Fair, that line disappears. Kids aren’t just learning about economics, marketing, or customer service—they’re living it.
They experience the thrill of making their first sale, the disappointment of a slow day, and the pride of seeing someone choose their creation over another. Every one of those moments builds character and resilience.
Failure isn’t something to fear—it’s feedback.
Success isn’t just profit—it’s progress.
A Celebration of Possibility
One of our favorite stories comes from a young girl named Michaela, who started selling her grandmother’s lemonade at her local business fair when she was just four years old. She wore a bumblebee costume, set up her booth, and sold every cup with a smile. A few years later, that same girl stood on Shark Tank pitching her company, Me & the Bees Lemonade, which is now sold in stores nationwide.
That’s the kind of spark the Children’s Business Fair ignites—a belief that I can do this.
And it starts with a simple invitation: What will you create?
Join Us November 22
The Kennebunkport Children’s Business Fair is coming up on Friday, November 22, and applications are now open for young entrepreneurs ages 6 to 14.
Every participant will:
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Create a product or service
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Develop a brand and marketing plan
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Set up their booth and sell to real customers
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Compete for awards in categories like “Most Business Potential” and “Most Creative Idea”
The fair is completely free to join, and every child keeps 100% of their earnings.
Whether your child dreams of designing jewelry, baking treats, coding games, or inventing something entirely new, the fair is the perfect place to bring those dreams to life.
👉 Apply now: childrensbusinessfair.org/kennebunk-acton
The Next Generation of Courageous Creators
The Children’s Business Fair is more than an event—it’s a movement. A reminder that the future doesn’t belong to those who wait for permission; it belongs to those who create, take risks, and learn from the journey.
At Acton Academy, we call those young people heroes.
So, who knows? The next big idea in Kennebunkport might be sitting at your kitchen table right now—just waiting for a chance to shine.
Join us November 22 and watch courage, grit, and creativity come alive at the Children’s Business Fair.
