Young business owners ages 6 to 18 will turn creativity into real-world experience at Chung Wah Chinese School's Halloween Kids Market on October 24, combining shopping, financial education, costumes and family fun.
Forget the traditional lemonade stand. Some of Stockton's youngest entrepreneurs are preparing to open their own businesses, welcome customers and discover what it takes to make a sale.
On Saturday, October 24, Chung Wah Chinese School will host a Halloween Kids Market, giving children and teenagers ages 6 to 18 the opportunity to operate their own vendor booths while learning practical lessons about business, money management and customer service.
The event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 212 E. Lafayette Street in Stockton and is free for the public to attend.
Young entrepreneurs can register for a vendor space for $10, making the event an accessible introduction to running a small business.
And because it's Halloween season, the marketplace will offer more than shopping. Families can also enjoy trick-or-treating and a costume contest, adding a festive atmosphere to an event built around creativity and learning.
For parents looking for an activity that combines fun with something educational, the market offers an opportunity to support young people as they put their ideas into action.
Small Businesses, Big Learning Opportunities
For a young entrepreneur, opening a business can begin with a simple question: What could I make or sell that someone else would want to buy?
The Halloween Kids Market gives children an opportunity to explore that question firsthand.
Rather than learning about business entirely from a textbook, young vendors will experience what happens when an idea meets a real customer.
They'll have opportunities to consider how much to charge, how to present their products, how to handle money and how to communicate with shoppers.
Some may be trying their hand at entrepreneurship for the first time. Others may already have experience selling handmade items or operating small ventures with help from their families.
Regardless of experience, the marketplace provides a setting where children can practice business skills in a supportive community environment.
The event is designed to introduce several important concepts, including:
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Pricing: Understanding how to set prices for products.
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Money management: Handling sales and keeping track of earnings.
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Profit and loss: Learning the difference between money earned and the costs of doing business.
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Customer service: Practicing communication and interacting with shoppers.
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Teamwork: Working with family members or friends to organize and operate a booth.
These are lessons that extend well beyond a single afternoon.
Understanding how money moves through a business can help young people develop financial awareness, problem-solving skills and confidence in making decisions.
And learning how to speak with customers can build communication skills that are useful in school, future employment and everyday life.
Where Creativity Meets Confidence
One of the most valuable aspects of a youth marketplace is that it gives children ownership of an experience.
They aren't simply following instructions. They're making decisions.
What should their booth look like? How should they display their merchandise? What will they say when someone approaches? How will they respond if a customer asks a question?
Each decision offers an opportunity to learn.
For younger children, the experience might begin with greeting customers, counting change or explaining something they've made.
Older students may be ready to explore more advanced ideas, such as calculating expenses, tracking sales or comparing different pricing strategies.
There may be moments when things don't go according to plan. A product might not sell as quickly as expected, or a young vendor might discover that a different display attracts more attention.
Those experiences are part of learning how businesses operate.
The marketplace gives children room to experiment, adapt and gain confidence in their abilities.
And perhaps most importantly, it allows them to experience the satisfaction of accomplishing something through their own effort.
For a child who has spent time preparing products or planning a booth, making that first sale can be an exciting milestone.
A Halloween Celebration With an Educational Twist
Stockton families have plenty of Halloween activities to choose from in October, but this marketplace adds a different dimension to the season.
Alongside the youth-operated booths, visitors can enjoy trick-or-treating and a Halloween costume contest.
The combination creates a welcoming setting for families who want to celebrate the holiday while encouraging young people to explore entrepreneurship.
Children can arrive in costume, enjoy the festive activities and discover what their peers have created for the market.
Parents and grandparents can browse the booths while supporting the next generation of local business owners.
And shoppers have an opportunity to make purchases that represent more than a simple transaction.
For a young vendor, every customer interaction can be a learning experience.
A friendly conversation, a thoughtful question or an encouraging purchase can help reinforce the confidence it takes to try something new.
The event also gives families an opportunity to talk about the value of work, creativity and financial responsibility in a setting that feels more like a celebration than a classroom.
Supporting Stockton's Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Small businesses are an important part of Stockton's economy and community identity.
Behind many successful businesses is someone who began with an idea, a willingness to take a chance and the determination to learn along the way.
Events such as the Halloween Kids Market introduce young people to that process at an early age.
Not every child who participates will grow up to own a business, but the skills they practice can benefit them in many different careers.
Financial literacy helps people understand how to make informed decisions about money.
Customer service develops patience, communication and the ability to understand other people's needs.
Planning a booth requires organization and attention to detail.
And learning to solve problems when something doesn't work as expected can help build resilience.
These experiences also encourage children to recognize the value of their own ideas.
For some, participating in the marketplace may spark an interest in entrepreneurship that continues through high school and beyond.
For others, it may simply be a memorable Saturday spent learning something new and connecting with the community.
Either outcome makes the experience worthwhile.
A Community Invitation Beyond the Classroom
Although Chung Wah Chinese School is hosting the event, the opportunity to participate as a young vendor extends to children throughout the broader community.
That makes the marketplace more than a school activity.
It becomes a gathering place where young people from different backgrounds can share ideas, interact with customers and celebrate their creativity.
The event also provides an opportunity for families to connect while supporting a common goal: helping children develop useful skills and believe in their potential.
Community support can make a meaningful difference in experiences like these.
For a young entrepreneur, having someone stop at their booth, ask about their products and show genuine interest can be encouraging.
Those interactions can help children become more comfortable speaking with adults, explaining their ideas and presenting something they've worked hard to create.
It's a reminder that supporting local businesses doesn't always mean visiting an established storefront.
Sometimes it means encouraging a child who is learning how to operate a business for the very first time.
How Families Can Participate
The Halloween Kids Market offers two ways to get involved.
For young entrepreneurs: Children and teenagers ages 6 to 18 can register to operate a vendor booth for $10. The experience is intended to help them practice entrepreneurship, financial literacy and customer service in a real marketplace setting.
For families and shoppers: Admission is free. Visitors can browse the youth-operated booths, support young vendors and enjoy the Halloween activities, including trick-or-treating and the costume contest.
Parents interested in helping their children participate can use the experience to start conversations about business planning before the event.
For example, families might discuss how to decide what to sell, estimate costs, set reasonable prices and prepare to greet customers.
Afterward, children can reflect on what they learned, what worked well and what they might do differently next time.
These conversations can turn a few hours at the market into a longer-lasting educational experience.
Event Details: Halloween Kids Market
Event: Halloween Kids Market
Hosted by: Chung Wah Chinese School
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Chung Wah Chinese School, 212 E. Lafayette Street, Stockton, CA
Admission: Free for visitors
Youth vendor registration: $10 per booth
Vendor ages: 6–18
Activities: Youth-operated marketplace, trick-or-treating and Halloween costume contest
Who can attend: Families and community members are welcome. Young entrepreneurs from the broader community may register as vendors.
Families interested in registering a child as a vendor should contact Chung Wah Chinese School or consult the event organizer's latest announcements for registration instructions and availability.
A Little Encouragement Can Go a Long Way
A child's first business experience might not look like much from the outside.
It could be a small table, a handwritten price sign and a collection of products prepared with help from family.
But behind that booth may be hours of planning, creativity and anticipation.
For the young person running it, the experience can represent something much bigger: the opportunity to take an idea seriously and discover what they're capable of accomplishing.
That's what makes Stockton's Halloween Kids Market worth celebrating.
It's a chance for children to learn by doing, for families to enjoy a festive community outing and for residents to encourage the city's next generation of thinkers, creators and entrepreneurs.
This Halloween, Stockton families can do more than collect candy. They can help young entrepreneurs turn big ideas into their first business experiences, one customer at a time.