*The Richmond Children's Business Fair and The RVA KidsFest are sponsored events.
Spring in the River City brings more than just blooming flowers. This month serves as a launchpad for the next generation of Richmond leaders. March is the Month of the Young Entrepreneur in RVA. What began as a small children's business fair in Richmond in 2018 has grown into a thriving event, offering countless opportunities for youth of all ages to start, build, and grow their own businesses. Over the years, hundreds of young people in the community have turned their hobbies into real startups, while more organizations are stepping up to offer new entrepreneurial opportunities for youth.
For parents and neighbors looking to support local talent, these three major events are the perfect place to start.
Featured Events
Richmond Children’s Business Fair
Kick off the month by supporting dozens of young businesses at the Dewey Gottwald Center. This is a high energy marketplace where kids handle everything including marketing and sales. Over 60 youth entrepreneurs will be featuring unique products and services created entirely by kids in grades K-12th. You can expect to find anything from handmade crafts to books and delicious treats. Bring small bills to support these new brands.
- Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Location: Dewey Gottwald Center at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2301 West Leigh St., Richmond, VA 23220
- Cost: FREE (RSVP Here: 2026 Richmond Children’s Business Fair Tickets, Dewey Gottwald Center, Richmond, 8 March 2026 or just show up!)
Back for its 8th year, this annual tradition brings families together for creativity, confidence‑building, and community fun! This festival showcases local youth talent on display, including youth entrepreneurs.
- Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
- Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Location: SCOR Richmond (Sports Center of Richmond), 1385 Overbrook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220
- Cost: FREE for youth; $5 for adults at the door
Midlothian Children’s Business Fair
Hosted by the Pace Academy, this fair provides a fantastic opportunity for area youth to showcase their brands to the public. Community members can browse startups launched by over 40 young entrepreneurs from the Midlothian and surrounding areas.
- Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Location: Central Baptist Church, 1510 Courthouse Rd, Richmond, VA, 23236
- Cost: FREE
Why Support Our Young CEOs?
Youth entrepreneurship is more than just running a business and making money. We're teaching youth how to become self-sufficient, how to provide for themselves and for their future families by using their talents. Even if a child decides not to pursue entrepreneurship in the future, the lessons taught can be applied regardless of the path they choose.
Skills learned through entrepreneurship are vital. By visiting these fairs, you help RVA kids develop important life skills, including:
Financial Literacy: They gain real world experience with pricing and profit.
Public Speaking: They learn to explain their vision to customers.
Resilience: They understand the hard work required to bring an idea to life.
How You Can Participate
Your support makes a difference for these small businesses. Skip the big box stores this month and find your next birthday gift or home decor item at one of these fairs instead. Use the hashtag #RVAYouthpreneur to share photos of your favorite finds.
We will also feature youthpreneurs on our social media pages all month long! If you want to shoutout a youth or teen entrepreneur, email me at cjw@macaronikid.com.
🎉Happy Youth Entrepreneur Month!🎉
