City of Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department will host the inaugural Children’s Business Fair on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cat Island Park in Elizabethton. The event is free and open to the public.

Participants for the event must between the ages of 7-18 years old and have created a product or service, developed a brand, built a marketing strategy, and open for customers at this one-day marketplace.

Children are responsible for the setup, sales and interacting with customers during the day.

According to information from the department, more than a dozen businesses are currently signed up and there are limited spots available for anyone else wanting to participate.

The event is being sponsored by Northeast Community Credit Union and the generous help of community volunteers who believe that principales entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.

“Whether an entrepreneur is famous or one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these entrepreneurs are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities,” Parks & Rec said in a statement issued to the Elizabethton Star.

The Children’s Business Fair gives students the opportunity to spread their wings and get a head start on promising business careers.

Awards will be given at 1:30 p.m. in each of the four age groups (7-9, 10-12, 13-15 and 16-18) for “Most Original Business Idea,” “Highest Business Potential,” and “Best Presentation/Creativity” classifications.

In addition to the marketplace, the public can enjoy several food trucks who will be on site and free inflatables as well as Cat Island Park, which is filled with several playgrounds and picnic shelters to enjoy the afternoon supporting the leaders of tomorrow.

For more information, contact Kelly Kitchens, special events coordinator, by email at kkitchens@cityofelizabethton.org or call (423) 547-3008.