Building on the literature on the precursors of perceived entrepreneurial self-efficacy and perceived entrepreneurial desirability and applying a mixed-method approach we develop and test theory to find out how entrepreneurial activities during leisure time and within school environment influence entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and desirability of entrepreneurship among rural adolescents. Based on the interviews of three entrepreneurially active rural adolescents and on the existing literature four hypotheses were developed regarding the relationship between entrepreneurial activities at leisure and school and ESE and desirability of rural adolescents. The hypotheses were tested using a survey among a convenience sample of pupils studying in 14 different primary and secondary level schools in selected rural areas in Finland in 2019. The results show that leisure time entrepreneurial activities, especially inventive and commercial activities, enhance both ESE and entrepreneurial desirability. Our results show also that formal entrepreneurial activities at school are not related to ESE or desirability. Our study highlights the crucial role of entrepreneurial leisure activities in shaping young person’s perceptions of their entrepreneurial potential and entrepreneurship as a career option and contributes to studies on entrepreneurial engagement in adolescence, but with a reach outside the EE.