Maine’s Young Entrepreneurs Market announces summer lineup
Castine-based market focuses on helping kids cultivate creativity and community
The Maine Young Entrepreneurs Market is modeled after a traditional farmers market, with youth vendors selling everything from flowers to hot dogs to original art. Photo courtesy of Maine Young Entrepreneurs Market.
May 11, 2026
By Staff
CASTINE—After a successful first year last summer, the Castine-based Maine Young Entrepreneurs Market is expanding its 2026 summer lineup with five markets across the peninsula. The market is modeled after a traditional farmers market, with vendors set up around a common area. The only catch? The vendors are all 14 years old and under.
According to a press release, the market started last summer in Castine as a way to “give kids a place to sell homemade goods and build confidence through entrepreneurship.” It took off quickly.
More than 40 kids participated in the markets last year, the release said, with vendors selling “everything from baked goods and fresh produce to handmade jewelry, artwork, crafts, and original creations.” Organizers said that the market is about more than just selling goods: Participating voters gain skills and confidence by “supporting neighboring booths, and having a space that was truly their own.”
The experience also introduced children to early financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills “in a hands-on, approachable way,” the release said. By participating, kids “learn how to price products, manage money, and interact with customers.”
“One of the most memorable parts of the markets was the way the young entrepreneurs supported each other. Vendors spent their earnings at neighboring booths, creating an atmosphere of encouragement and excitement that spread throughout the events,” said Kate Kana, a lead organizer of the market and a parent of young vendors. “Parents [said that] their children came home energized to create more, asking for baking supplies, art materials, yarn, beads, and ingredients instead of screen time.
The release said that some participants chose to donate a portion of their earnings to local charities, reinforcing the markets’ “emphasis on community and giving back.”
The 2026 Maine Young Entrepreneurs Market is adding four new locations to this year’s summer schedule:
June 27 — Ellsworth | Main Street Parklet
July 11 — Little Deer Isle | LDI Lobster
July 25 — Brooklin | Friend Memorial Library
August 8 — Castine | Town Commons
August 29 — Blue Hill | YMCA – Lawrence Center
All markets will run from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM and are free and open to the public. Participation is open to all children ages 14 and younger, and booth space is free for youth vendors, the release said, and organizers welcome “homemade, handmade, and homegrown products of all kinds.”
Community members are encouraged to attend the markets throughout the summer to support the next generation of Maine makers, creators, and small business owners. For more information, or to register for a booth, email mainesyouthmarket@gmail.com.