Children in the U.S. and Canada traditionally run lemonade stands during summer.
The seasonal association is practical as well as cultural. Warm weather brings people outdoors, increases demand for cold drinks, and gives children time away from school to organize a small business. A typical stand uses a folding table or a homemade counter, a handwritten sign, cups, ice, and a pitcher of lemonade.
The lemonade stand became an icon of youthful North American entrepreneurship. Children can practice pricing, purchasing supplies, marketing, teamwork, and handling money, even though a stand is usually informal rather than a fully regulated commercial enterprise. In some places, permit and health-code rules have occasionally led authorities to close stands, producing public debates about children's businesses.
The tradition is not limited to one exact type of drink: stands may also sell iced tea, soda, or other refreshments. The important clue is the familiar summertime setting. The concept has also appeared in popular culture, including the 1979 computer game Lemonade Stand, which simulated weather, pricing, advertising, and sales.