ROCKPORT — Free enterprise was alive and well on Rockville Street in Rockport Saturday afternoon, Aug. 29. A group of enterprising young business owners decided to sell bracelets and lemonade at a small stand they had set up in front of their driveway.

Nine-year-old Anna Hildreth explained that the four had spent the previous evening making bracelets to sell the next day. My interview was broken by shouts of, “lemonade, lemonade,” as cars passed by.

“We figured we could get more people if we offered lemonade and bracelets together,” said Anna. “We charge 70-cents and if you buy a bracelet, you get lemonade and if you buy lemonade you get a bracelet. So far it has worked out pretty good.”

The kids seemed to be having a great time. They had made eight dollars, which included my donation to the cash cup for a bracelet and two cups of lemonade. Anna said they would split the money four ways at the end of the business day.

Though lemonade stands technically violate several laws, including those governing business licenses, health code and in many cases child labor, they are rarely, if ever, investigated. In fact lemonade stands are encouraged as a way for kids to get their first lesson in free enterprise. When they do get shut down, they make national headlines.

Enter comedian Jerry Seinfeld who set up a lemonade stand in the Hamptons to try and help his wife’s charity. A neighbor didn’t like it and called the police, who shut it down. No word on how much they were charging for a cup, but given it was in an area where even a shabby house can run $5 million. I’m guessing it was a little more than a dollar a cup. Bracelets sold separately.