The viral phenomenon known as Cake Picnic has landed in Sydney, bringing with it a wave of joy and excitement as over 500 people gathered at the Royal Botanic Garden on Saturday. The event. Which has previously sold out in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, featured more than 1,600 cakes in its Melbourne edition earlier this month, according to the BBC.

Fundraising Through Sweetness

Elisa Sunga. The 35-year-old founder of Cake Picnic and a part-time hobby baker, was inspired to start the event after posting an online invitation for a small gathering two years ago. She asked attendees to bring a cake, expecting only a dozen people to show up, while To her surprise, nearly 200 people attended, bringing more than 180 cakes.

Sunga, who moved to San Francisco at age 12 from the Philippines, says the event has grown far beyond her initial expectations. “I had no idea that thousands of people all over the world would be as excited as I am,” she told the BBC. “It feels unreal.”

According to the BBC. The Sydney event saw a diverse crowd of over 500 people, with cakes ranging from simple home-baked creations to elaborate, professionally made desserts. Attendees were required to bring a cake that is at least 20cm wide and 7.5cm high, and many went to great lengths to meet this requirement.

A World of Flavors and Creations

The event featured a wide array of cakes, from a metre-high life-sized swan to a bouquet of cupcakes. Attendees were treated to a variety of flavors, including coffee pecan torte, spiced pear sponge with miso caramel, and a Persian baklava with golden filo pastry.

There was also a savory option. A focaccia cake with roasted tomato, pesto, and feta icing. Sunga said it was refreshing to see people enjoy a variety of flavors, including savory options. “When you’re surrounded by thousands of sweet cakes, all you really want is salt,” she said.

Among the attendees was Hilary Lindgren. 54, who baked a carrot cake with her daughter late into the night. “It was crazy – a big mess, flour and sugar everywhere, but lots of fun,” she said. “There’s just so many negative things happening in the world at the moment that it’s nice to do something like this.”

Other attendees included Eunice Lim, a Sydney-based influencer from Singapore, who said the event was “so vibrant and inclusive.” She added that there was no judgment at the event, just people and cakes of all shapes and sizes.

Celebrating Connection and Creativity

Sunga, who works in AI, said that the event is a way for her to be creative and connect with others. “It’s almost meditative doing something creative with my hands,” she said. “AI every day can do an increasingly terrifying amount of things, but to this day it can’t bake a cake – yet.”

According to the BBC. The event is not just about the cakes, but also about the social experience. Attendees were given five minutes to cut, carve, and cram as many morsels of cake into a large pizza box, though the event encourages people to spend time outside and connect with others in a real-life setting.

Associate Professor Lindsay Kelley, who studies food and technology, said the appeal of a cake picnic lies in its design. “Unlike muffins, cupcakes, or biscuits, cakes are designed to be sliced and shared,” she said. “When we see a whole cake at parties and events, we understand that everyone around the table gets a slice and we share that experience.”

Sunga said her event brings together people of all ages and backgrounds. “When you go to a concert, it’s pretty much the same age group,” she said, “but when you’re at a cake picnic, it’s so varied.”

As for juggling a full-time job and her baking, Sunga said it’s her way of wanting to have it all. “I am very curious about tech and AI, but at the same time, I love being creative and expressing myself and eating cake,” she said. “I want to have my cake and eat it, too.”

The event is a testament to the power of community and shared experiences, bringing people together in a world that often feels divided. As the sun set over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, the air was filled with the sweet aroma of frosting, sprinkles, and layers of fun.