The viral Cake Picnic movement has expanded its sugary reach to Australian shores, with Sydney’s Botanic Gardens serving as the latest backdrop for this international baking phenomenon. Founded by Elisa Sunga, a Google AI specialist and part-time hobby baker, the event has rapidly evolved from a small San Francisco gathering into a global sensation with sold-out events across four continents.
What began as a simple online invitation two years ago—requesting attendees bring cakes to a casual gathering—has transformed into a major culinary movement. The Sydney edition attracted over 500 participants who displayed more than 1,600 homemade creations under the iconic Harbour Bridge. The non-competitive event requires cakes to meet specific dimensions (minimum 20cm wide and 7.5cm tall) but imposes no restrictions on creativity.
The diversity of offerings reflected both international influences and local Australian themes. From a life-sized swan sculpture cake to Filipino-inspired ube creations and Swedish princess cakes, the display showcased remarkable culinary artistry. Notably, the event featured both sweet and savory innovations, including a focaccia cake with pesto and feta icing that particularly delighted founder Sunga.
Participants ranged from professional bakers to complete novices, with many working through the night to prepare their contributions. Hilary Lindgren, 54, who attended with her daughter, captured the prevailing sentiment: ‘There’s just so many negative things happening in the world that it’s nice to do something like this.’
Food technology expert Associate Professor Lindsay Kelley notes the event’s appeal lies in its design for sharing: ‘Cakes are designed to be sliced and shared. When we see a whole cake at parties, we understand that everyone gets a slice and shares that experience.’
For Sunga, who balances her tech career with baking passions, the events represent a tangible counterpoint to digital life. ‘AI every day can do an increasingly terrifying amount of things,’ she observes, ‘but to this day it can’t bake a cake—yet. Cake Picnic forces people to not only come outside but spend a day on the grass.’
The movement continues to expand, with future events planned across multiple international cities, demonstrating that in an increasingly digital world, the simple joy of sharing homemade cake maintains powerful appeal.