In brief
The Cake Picnic, a viral event that has previously sold out in cities like San Francisco and New York, has arrived in Sydney, charming locals with an extravagant spread of cakes. Over 500 attendees gathered at the Royal Botanic Garden to share their homemade and professionally crafted delights, marking a joyful community gathering amidst challenging times. Founded by Elisa Sunga, the event celebrates creativity, community, and a love for cake.
Welcome to Cake Picnic, Sydney edition. This viral event has already taken cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles by storm, with tickets in places like Dubai and London proving as elusive as a rare gem.
Now, it's gracing Australian shores, following a successful Melbourne event earlier this month that boasted an astounding 1,600 cakes—all eagerly devoured by participants.
I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake, laughs Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, who juggles a full-time job at Google with her part-time passion for baking.
The concept behind Cake Picnic is refreshingly simple. It all began two years ago when Elisa, having moved from the Philippines to San Francisco at the age of 12, posted an online invite for a casual gathering with just one rule: everyone must bring a cake. She expected maybe a dozen people, yet around 200 showed up, each bringing cakes that would soon become the stuff of legends.
Fast forward to the present, this sweetness explosion has attracted over 500 eager participants in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. A delightful scene unfolds with tables adorned with cakes of various sizes, shapes, and flavors, creating a whimsical atmosphere that's hard to resist.
With cakes ranging from traditional flavours to innovative creations, including a giant life-sized swan sculpted in sponge, each offering tells a story of culinary creativity. Participants, including seasoned bakers to first-timers, proudly present cakes that must be at least 20cm wide and 7.5cm tall.
The event encourages connection and joy amid a world full of challenges. There's just so many negative things happening in the world at the moment that it's nice to do something like this, remarks participant Hilary Lindgren, who enjoyed baking late into the night with her daughter.
As attendees gather under the shade of trees, laughter and camaraderie fill the air while they take turns carving and sharing their cake masterpieces. From elaborate swirls of frosting to intriguingly unique fillings, the spectrum of creativity displayed has all attendees buzzing with excitement.
Associate Professor Lindsay Kelley highlights that cakes are inherently communal, crafted to be shared and savored together. This picnic not only celebrates the art of baking but joyfully unites individuals from all walks of life.
In a heartfelt reflection, Elisa shares her reason for creating Cake Picnic: to foster connection in a community that believes in the joy of sharing cakes together.
As she puts it perfectly, It's just fun to see everyone coming together. And indeed, this giant cake picnic proves that amidst life’s chaos, there’s always room for sweetness and community.
