Welcome to Cake Picnic, Sydney edition. It's the viral event that's already sold out in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. With Dubai, London, and Mexico City struggling for ticket availability, the festival has made its way to Australia, kicking off with over 1,600 cakes at a Melbourne event earlier this month.
'I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake,' laughed Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, a part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee. 'People go on tour for music and whatnot, but for cake? It just seems so whimsical and delightful to be able to do that.'
The concept is simple: two years ago, Sunga posted an online invitation for a small gathering, requesting that everyone bring a cake. Expecting just a dozen attendees, she was surprised by nearly 200 participants with over 180 cakes devoured. This simple invitation has sparked excitement globally, with Sunga admitting she never anticipated the widespread enthusiasm for cake.
Over 500 attendees assembled at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, surrounded by diverse and meticulously crafted cakes, each at least 20 centimeters wide and 7.5 centimeters tall. The atmosphere buzzed with creativity, as bakers big and small showcased an array of delightful creations, from towering swan cakes to decadent cupcakes.
'There's just so many negative things happening in the world at the moment that it's nice to do something like this,' shared Hilary Lindgren, who baked a carrot cake with her daughter late the previous night.
As small groups rushed to sample the splendid assortment before them, Cake Picnic not only fostered community spirit but also attracted individuals from various backgrounds, united by their love for cake. Marcus Ehrlich, one of the few men at the event, commented, 'In a big city, this is the type of thing we should be doing.'
From sweet to savory, cakes showcased a fusion of cultural flavors, including a focaccia cake adorned with roasted tomato and pesto icing. Sunga reflected that engagement in the Cake Picnic allows for meaningful connections offline, 'AI every day can do an increasingly terrifying amount of things, but to this day it can't bake a cake - yet.'
As the event wrapped up, attendees left with happy hearts and full pizza boxes, having shared laughter, joy, and, most importantly, slices of cake.
'I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake,' laughed Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, a part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee. 'People go on tour for music and whatnot, but for cake? It just seems so whimsical and delightful to be able to do that.'
The concept is simple: two years ago, Sunga posted an online invitation for a small gathering, requesting that everyone bring a cake. Expecting just a dozen attendees, she was surprised by nearly 200 participants with over 180 cakes devoured. This simple invitation has sparked excitement globally, with Sunga admitting she never anticipated the widespread enthusiasm for cake.
Over 500 attendees assembled at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, surrounded by diverse and meticulously crafted cakes, each at least 20 centimeters wide and 7.5 centimeters tall. The atmosphere buzzed with creativity, as bakers big and small showcased an array of delightful creations, from towering swan cakes to decadent cupcakes.
'There's just so many negative things happening in the world at the moment that it's nice to do something like this,' shared Hilary Lindgren, who baked a carrot cake with her daughter late the previous night.
As small groups rushed to sample the splendid assortment before them, Cake Picnic not only fostered community spirit but also attracted individuals from various backgrounds, united by their love for cake. Marcus Ehrlich, one of the few men at the event, commented, 'In a big city, this is the type of thing we should be doing.'
From sweet to savory, cakes showcased a fusion of cultural flavors, including a focaccia cake adorned with roasted tomato and pesto icing. Sunga reflected that engagement in the Cake Picnic allows for meaningful connections offline, 'AI every day can do an increasingly terrifying amount of things, but to this day it can't bake a cake - yet.'
As the event wrapped up, attendees left with happy hearts and full pizza boxes, having shared laughter, joy, and, most importantly, slices of cake.
