Future business owners from Carter County will soon have the opportunity to sell their goods to the public.

Acton, creators of the largest entrepreneurship event for children in North America, will host a children’s business fair in Elizabethton on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cat Island Park.

Held in conjunction with Elizabethton Parks and Recreation, the event has already peaked interest around the area.

“We’re still a few months out but we’ve already received quite a bit of feedback from social media,” said Kelly Kitchens, Parks & Rec events coordinator. “In the two days of registration, we’ve already had 10 businesses sign it. It has been exciting to see the support from the community so far.”

First created in Austin, Texas, the Acton Children’s Business Fair has grown to different parts of the country, including Chicago, Phoenix, Grand Rapids, Dallas and Los Angeles. As of now, Elizabethton is the lone city in Tennessee to offer this type of event for children.

Providing something to the children of the area was the key reason for the event, Kitchens said.

“We actually had to go through an interview process before partnering with Acton,” she explained. “The more we talked, the more I fell in love with their mission. This is such a great opportunity for our children. We’re always looking at giving the youth of the community something to do, and this fell right in line with it. These boys and girls will be our future leaders, and this is the perfect opportunity for them to learn about what it takes to handle their own business.”

Kitchens added that the event is geared to children ages 7 to 16. Participants will be able to create a product or service and sell it during the market. Different businesses have been highlighted at previous events, including handmade greeting cards, a photobomb booth, and a lemonade stand that saw a percentage of profits get donated to protecting honey bees.

Kitchens added registration is free of charge due to Parks & Rec sponsoring the event and the involvement of “generous community partners.”

According to the coordinator, the first 20 booths will be able to use one of the department’s tables at no cost. Once those spots pop up, booths would need to provide their own table, and tent if desired. There is also no electricity available at the location.

Individuals can visit www.childrensbusinessfair.org/elizabethton to register for the event.

“I would encourage people to sign up as soon as possible,” Kitchens said. “Spaces will be limited due to the size of the park. We’ll accept as many as we can and then have a waiting list available.”

Sponsor opportunities to assist with different projects with Parks & Rec are also available. To learn more about the fair or upcoming events, visit their website or call (423) 547-6441.

Visit www.childrensbusinessfair.org to learn more about the fair.