The Lemonade Day program hopes to youngsters essential life skills in business operations and financial literacy

More than 300 young entrepreneurs are set to showcase their handmade and homegrown products Saturday at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver.

This is the third year of the Lemonade Day Greater Vancouver’s Junior Market, brought to the community by the Greater Vancouver Chamber and OnPoint Community Credit Union. The market will be open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1

The young entrepreneurs will share their products with thousands of potential customers, including artwork, jewelry, hand creams, birdhouses, and more. If it is all about location, location, location, the Junior Market is set up very close to the Vancouver Farmers Market. 

Participants will submit their business results at the end of the day for a chance to be recognized as the Vancouver Youth Entrepreneur of the Year. There will also be a Business Pitch contest, sponsored by Palm Beach Tan.

The young entrepreneurs will share their products with thousands of potential customers, including artwork, jewelry, hand creams, birdhouses, organically grown produce and more. Participants will submit their business results at the end of the day for a chance to be recognized as the Vancouver Youth Entrepreneur of the Year. The event will also include a Business Pitch contest sponsored by Palm Beach Tan.

Among the many who are expected to showcase their talent is 10-year-old Henry Mawhirter of Henry’s Trees. The Vancouver youngster creates birdhouses and more, inspired by his dad’s woodworking. He has 27 birdhouses ready. He also shares tips with his customers on birdhouse placement and care.

The Junior Market event showcases the creativity, innovation, and business skills of the region’s future business leaders. It is the culmination of the Lemonade Day program, an initiative aimed to inspire budding entrepreneurs ages 6 through 16 by learning essential life skills such as business operations, responsibility, financial literacy, goal setting, and teamwork. The program is offered free of charge, courtesy sponsors such as OnPoint.