Sweet Harmony: Cake Picnic Brings Joy to Sydney

Sat Mar 28 2026 23:00:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Cake Picnic phenomenon has made its way to Sydney, delighting local bakers and sweets enthusiasts nearly as much as it did in cities like San Francisco and New York. With over 500 participants showing off their tasty creations, the event has become a celebration of community and creativity.

Sydney's recent Cake Picnic event attracted over 500 participants, where amateur and professional bakers alike showcased their creations against the stunning backdrop of the Harbour Bridge. Founder Elisa Sunga brought the viral sensation Down Under, sparking joy and a sense of community as people eagerly shared their cakes and baking stories.

Welcome to Cake Picnic, Sydney edition.

It's the viral event that's already sold out dates in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. Tickets in Dubai, London, and Mexico City were harder to come by than a double-yolk egg.

And now it’s landed on Australian shores, with a Melbourne event earlier this month boasting 1,600 cakes in one sitting.

I had no idea that I could ever go on tour for cake, laughs Cake Picnic founder Elisa Sunga, part-time hobby baker and full-time Google employee specializing in AI.

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 invite for a small gathering with one request: everyone must bring a cake.

The 35-year-old figured maybe a dozen or so people might turn up and brought seven cakes to make sure everyone would get a taste. To her amazement, close to 200 people came with more than 180 cakes devoured.

Her simple, sugar-laden summons has since caused ripples of the buttercream variety across the foodie world. It feels unreal, Sunga tells the BBC. I had no idea that thousands of people all over the world would be as excited as I am.

There's plenty of excitement among the 500-plus crowd gathering at Saturday's event in Sydney's Botanic Gardens. As they line up to have their cakes inspected – which must be 20cm (8 inches) wide and 7.5cm (3 inches) high – there are a few bloodshot eyes in the queue. Many participants baked well into the night.

One attendee, Hilary Lindgren, 54, recalls the late-night baking frenzy, saying, It was crazy - a big mess, flour and sugar everywhere, but lots of fun. There’s just so many negative things happening in the world at the moment that it’s nice to do something like this.

From home bakers to professionals, influencers to non-bakers, everyone places their cakes on the tables stretching across the grassy knoll, with Sydney's famed Harbour Bridge as the backdrop. The only architectural feats eliciting oohs and aahs this autumn morning are the spectacular cakes presented by passionate bakers.

Eunice Lim, a Sydney-based influencer originally from Singapore, was thrilled with the event's vibrant, inclusive atmosphere. There’s no judgment here – just people and cakes of all shapes and sizes, she said while balancing her dessert haul. The event serves as a heartwarming reminder of community spirit brought together by a shared love for cake.