F A Q
Abou the Bazaar
The Silk Route Children’s Bazaar inspires Muslim children to discover their inner entrepreneur by giving them the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses in a one-day market.
We will accept 100 vendors.
The fair will be indoors. Each business will be given a booth with a 6-foot table, and 1-2 chairs. Tablecloths will not be provided. Please let us know if you need an electrical outlet near your table.
You can support the bazaar by:
- Sharing the event
- Attending with your family and friends
- Sponsoring us
- Volunteering with us
- Buying our merchandise
Vendor Registration
The application must be submitted online. You can find the application here. Please submit one application for each business. Children working as a group should submit a single application. No more than 3 participants per business.
The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:
What product or service do you plan to sell?
What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you?
How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back?
How will you advertise/market your business before the fair?
At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
We aim not to duplicate businesses. If we have received a business plan similar to yours, we will inform you and encourage you to develop a new one.
Yes, we can provide electricity to the booths. Please let us know in your application if you need an electrical outlet near your table.
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. If a parent is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified from the competition.
Parents of younger children may sit with them in the booth, but the children should be responsible for and do all the work of setup, customer interaction, and sales.
Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.
Please email here with “Need an idea” in the subject line, and we will send you our updated list of suggestions.
Yes, we do recommend applying as soon as possible because we have a limited number of booths and we place a cap on certain kinds of businesses. Spots for food businesses fill up very quickly.
Please submit a new application.
Currently, we do not have the capacity to allow this because demand for our booths is high and therefore, in the interest of fairness, we can only allow one booth per vendor.
We have to review your application before we can reply. You will receive an email from us either approving your application or asking you to provide us with more information to help us make a decision.
Children under 6 may join their older siblings’ businesses and be present at their booth, provided they are accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult.
Cancellations made on or before the registration deadline will be eligible for a refund (less a $5 administration fee).
No refunds will be issued for cancellations after the deadline, including no-shows on the day of the event.
Yes. Limited bursaries are available for families who need support. Please email us here and put “Bursary” in the subject line.
Vendor Support
Yes. Click here to visit our website page that lists educational resources for entrepreneurship skills, business startup, planning & development.
Silk Route Children’s Bazaar Food & Drink Policy
To keep our bazaar safe and enjoyable for everyone, all food and drinks sold by our youth vendors must strictly follow Alberta Health Services (AHS) home kitchen guidelines for for low-risk, home-prepared food.
Only low-risk, non-perishable items that do not require refrigeration can be prepared in a home kitchen.
- Allowed Foods (Low-Risk Items Only)
- Safe Baked Goods: Cookies, muffins, fruit pies, bread, and brownies are great—provided they do not contain cream, custard, fresh fruit toppings, or meat.
- Dry Snacks & Treats: Fudge, hard candies, popcorn, dry snack mixes, and homemade cereal bars are permitted.
- Preserves & Produce: High-acid fruit jams and jellies are allowed, as well as whole, uncut fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Prohibited Foods (High-Risk Items)
- Perishable Desserts: No cheesecakes, cream puffs, pumpkin pies, or cream-filled pastries.
- Meats & Cheeses: No sandwiches, meats, cheeses, or savory pies.
- Cut Produce: Whole fruits are fine, but sliced or cut fruits and vegetables are not allowed as they require strict refrigeration.
- Hot Drinks: Tea, Coffee & Hot Chocolate
- How to Serve: Hot coffee, tea, and hot chocolate must be brewed at home using safe municipal tap water and kept warm in insulated thermal carafes.
- Making Hot Chocolate: Must be made using water-based mix—fresh milk cannot be heated or stored in carafes without commercial refrigeration.
- Adult Pouring Rule: An adult or parent must help handle and pour hot drinks to prevent burns.
- Condiments: Only single-serve, pre-packaged sugar packets or shelf-stable creamers are allowed. No fresh milk or liquid cream jugs.
- Cold Drinks: Lemonade
- Keep it Simple: Classic lemonade (water, lemon juice, and sugar) is permitted.
- No Fruit Garnishes: Do not put cut fresh fruit slices inside the dispenser or cups.
- Ice Safety: Store ice in a clean cooler and use a dedicated ice scoop—never hands or cups.
- Covered Dispensers: Serve cold drinks from a clean, covered dispenser with a spigot.
- Required Booth Sign Every food and drink booth must clearly display a sign or label that reads:
“Prepared in a home kitchen that is not subject to inspection.”
You can support your child by providing them with the resources and guidance they need to plan and develop their business independently. Click here for our resources page.
At the bazaar, allow them to do the booth setup, advertising and selling. This will enable them to truly learn entrepreneurship skills and grow in confidence. Step back and allow them to take the lead.
Importantly, ensure that any family/friends you have invited do not crowd around your child’s booth and block customers from visiting the booth.
You can also support your child by promoting their business and the bazaar to your family, friends and on your social media. You can take your child to put up posters and hand out flyers in your neighbourhood (on community boards, mailboxes, restaurants, stores, community centres, mosques and mussalas – please ask for permission first).
We invite vendors to send us their business posters to feature on our social media.
We also welcome your videos showing your business preparation to feature on our Instagram Stories. The videos should be a maximum of 1 minute, in portrait mode, well-lit and clear – not blurry or shaky. Email the posters/videos to silkroutechildrensbazaar@gmail.com.
You can send us your business poster and videos as explained in the previous answer.
You can put up posters and hand out flyers in your neighbourhood (on community boards, mailboxes, restaurants, stores, community centres, mosques and mussalas – please ask for permission first).
You can invite your family, friends and neighbours to attend the bazaar and ask them to do the same and to share the event on their social media.
You can make sure your booth is attractive and inviting to visit with the name of your business and a price list clearly shown.
Volunteering
We’d love your help! Check out our full list of pre-bazaar and event-day roles and sign up here.
Absolutely. We welcome volunteers of all ages. The event cannot run without the help of volunteers and there are many rewarding roles to choose from. Children under 12 are welcome to volunteer, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Check our Volunteers Page for more details.
Bazaar Day
We understand that illness or unexpected situations can sometimes prevent you from attending. If this happens, please email us here as soon as possible and include “No-show” in the subject line.
You are welcome to bring the following items to help you set up and run your booth smoothly:
- Table cover or cloth to decorate your space
- Signage or display materials to showcase your products
- Cash box for handling payments
- Payment system, such as:
- Credit/debit card reader, or
- QR code for e-transfers
- Float/change for cash sales
- Extra bags or packaging for customers
- Price tags or labels
- Tape, scissors, and markers for quick fixes
- A small water bottle, snack/lunch, or a quiet activity (for slower periods)
- Extension cord (if you have requested electricity)
Yes! Free parking is available on-site for the event.
We do recommend bringing lunch/snacks. There is a limited range of food on sale at the bazaar.
Yes. A float cashier will be available on-site to provide change in small bills. However, we strongly recommend that vendors bring their own float (coins and small bills) to ensure smooth transactions throughout the event.
Parents are not permitted to advertise or sell items on behalf of their children. However, parents of younger children may provide assistance at the booth, as long as the child remains the primary vendor and the parent does not actively sell or promote the products on their behalf.
After The Bazaar
Keep your business going or start another one. Join our mailing list so we can email you about next year’s bazaar or any future Silk Route Children’s Bazaar programs and workshops.
Check Acton Children’s Business Fair and Lemonade Day Calgary to find out about any kids’ markets taking place in Calgary throughout the year. Also, look out for them in local Calgary communities, especially in the winter holiday season and in the summer.
Contact
Please contact us here