Iliana and Isaiah sold bead designs and homemade baked goods at last year’s fair.
The Menifee Children’s Business Fair is returning Saturday, March 14, giving local youth the chance to launch their own businesses for a day.
The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 28200 Portsmouth Drive. The event features vendor booths run entirely by children, along with live musical performances by local youth. The music will be sponsored by Live Jam Events and GLBC Guitar Lessons.
Organizer Cynthia Nemelka said the idea came together quickly after she saw something similar online.
“I think something popped up on my Facebook last February, and I thought, ‘Oh, this is cool,’” she said. “And then 30 days later, we had our first fair.”
Nemelka didn’t hesitate.
“I was just like, ‘I want to do this. Let’s do it next month,’ and I made it happen,” she said.
The first fair, held in March 2025, featured 37 young vendors. A second event in September grew to 42 participants. This time, Nemelka hopes to reach 50 and is already at 40 registered booths.
Nemelka said the event was inspired in part by her own family.
“I have grandkids who live in Menifee,” she said. “And I know that they’re always looking for things to do because we don’t have a lot of entertainment. I thought this would be a great way for kids to be able to do something fun and make a little money and learn how to be an entrepreneur.”
She said what children gain most from the experience is not just money, but confidence.
“I think a sense of pride and accomplishment,” Nemelka said. “And they had a lot of fun meeting the other little business owners.”
Last year’s fair included a memorable ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Katie Luna.
“It was so cool,” Nemelka said. “Katie came out and did little mini red ribbon cuttings for each of the booths.”
Luna said the moment made a lasting impression.
“The ribbon-cutting was a powerful moment,” Luna said. “Each child received a certificate recognizing them as a business owner, which immediately elevated the experience from ‘kid activity’ to legitimate entrepreneurship.”
She said the shift in the children was visible.
“When they stepped forward to hold the oversized scissors and cut the red ribbon, you could see their confidence expand in real time,” Luna said.
Luna added that events like this align with the Chamber’s mission.
“The Chamber exists to champion business at every stage, and that includes the very beginning,” she said. “If we are serious about strengthening our local economy long term, we must invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs today.”
Young vendors at previous fairs have sold everything from crocheted animals and balloon art to resin crafts and treats. Students from Heritage High School’s robotics team even hosted a booth.
At this year’s fair, Nemelka is introducing a new intergenerational element.
“A senior 55 event will be simultaneously taking place inside the building where they will be playing games and winning prizes of funny money that they can then take out and spend at the children’s booths,” Nemelka said.
Each child vendor will also be paired with a senior “host or hostess” who will check on them throughout the event and offer support. Prior to the fair, young vendors will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A panel with senior craft vendors for advice and inspiration.
“I would love to see more community support at our events,” Nemelka said. “If I can get more people there for my little vendors, that would just make me so happy.”
She believes investing in youth entrepreneurship benefits everyone.
“They are our future,” she said. “The kids are going to be the ones that are going to figure out how to make a better world for us, how to enhance our lives with their new ideas and creativity.”
For Luna, the impact goes beyond a single afternoon.
“Events like this create safe spaces for creativity, risk-taking and leadership development,” she said. “When a child experiences success tied to their own initiative, it shifts their mindset from ‘maybe someday’ to ‘I can.’ That transformation is powerful.”
