The parking lot outside McLean’s Old Firehouse Center transformed into a bustling marketplace on Sept. 20 with the commencement of the annual Acton Children’s Business Fair. Young entrepreneurs from the DMV area, ranging from ages 8-14, set up stands pitching and selling a variety of unique products to hundreds of community members.
The event combined the annual Old Firehouse Block Party with the Acton Children’s Business Fair, a nationwide event that launched in 2007. The McLean Community Center began hosting the event three years ago, weaving it into their longstanding back-to-school community celebration.
10-year-old Rohini Mishra stood behind a display of colorful bracelets and homemade squishies she learned to make from YouTube videos.
“Getting lots of customers and money is definitely my favorite part,” Mishra said. “I’ve also learned how to talk to strangers and promote what I’m selling.”
At another table, 12-year-old Megan showcased earrings she made herself. She began the project in June and had already sold about ten pieces by midafternoon.
“I’m really creative and wanted to make something crafty,” Megan said. “It’s exciting to see people wear something I made.”
Jana Yacouv, a 13-year-old, who shared a booth with her younger sister, offered baked cookies alongside small handmade gifts.
“I took a business and computer science class, so this felt like the perfect next step to try,” Yacouv said. “Doing this definitely teaches you social skills; you have to talk to everyone that passes by.”
While kid vendors had their share of fun experiences, parents found the fair to be an unexpected economics lesson.
Anna Ballena watched her fifth-grade son sell lemonade while calculating costs and coping with what she called “sunk costs when the ice melted.” He kept careful notes on every purchase and adjusted as the day grew hotter.
“It’s real-world math: profit, negative numbers and supply and demand, all in one afternoon,” Ballena said.
Another parent said the biggest reward of the event was watching her children build confidence at their table of hand-built wooden models.
“They learned to greet customers, adjust when people said no and keep going,” Foster said. “It’s not just about making money, it’s about perseverance.”
Community organizations also contributed to the event. Members of the American Legion and Veterans for Foreign Wars handed out flags and chatted with families.
“We’re here to support the community and connect with veterans who might need a support group,” Legion representative Javier Ramirez said. “It’s also great to see so many kids running businesses and learning those crucial skills so early.”
As the afternoon crowds continued to stream through the Old Firehouse Center, Betsy May Salazar, executive director of the McLean Community Center, reflected on the bigger picture of the event.
“It’s just such good energy—everybody comes out,” Salazar said. “Our programming changes based on what we see as a need from the community, and this fair brings people together—kids, parents, grandparents, neighbors—and gives young entrepreneurs a place that’s truly theirs.”
The partnership between the block party and the business fair has created something larger than either event alone, drawing visitors to discover more about the community center’s offerings.
“People who don’t know anything about MCC walk up see the fair and realize there’s a lot happening here,” Salazar said. “Our mission is about bringing people together and giving young people a place to shine. Pairing the long-standing block party with Acton’s hands-on business fair does exactly that.”
