Have you ever stumbled upon a hobby that completely reshapes your life? For one woman, a simple love for baking during a quiet pandemic evening spiraled into a worldwide phenomenon that’s brought thousands together over their shared obsession with cake. It’s not just about sugar and frosting—it’s about connection, creativity, and building something unexpectedly beautiful. This is the story of how a tech worker’s side hustle became a global celebration of dessert and community.
From Kitchen to Community: The Birth of a Sweet Idea
Five years ago, a 35-year-old tech professional found herself kneading dough and whipping up frosting during the long, locked-down days of the pandemic. What started as a way to pass the time quickly became a full-blown passion. “I just couldn’t stop baking,” she recalls with a laugh, “but I also couldn’t eat all those cakes myself!” That’s when a spark of genius hit: what if she could gather people to share their cakes in one massive, delicious event? Thus, the Cake Picnic was born—a festival where the only rule is to bring a whole cake to share.
The idea was simple but bold. She posted about her casual cake-sharing meetup on social media, expecting maybe a dozen friends to show up. Instead, the response was overwhelming. “I kept refreshing the page, and the RSVPs just kept climbing—50, 100, 200!” she says. That first event in San Francisco saw nearly 200 cakes, from towering chocolate masterpieces to delicate matcha creations, spread across tables in a park. It was a sugar-fueled dream come true.
It’s not just about eating cake—it’s about the joy of creating and sharing something you love with others.
– Event founder
Why Cake Brings People Together
What is it about cake that turns strangers into instant friends? Perhaps it’s the universal appeal of a perfectly frosted slice or the nostalgia tied to birthday parties and celebrations. The founder points to the sheer variety as a big draw. “You can taste a lemon chiffon, a red velvet, or an ube cake all in one afternoon,” she explains. “Where else do you get that kind of dessert buffet experience?”
But it’s more than just indulgence. The events foster a sense of community, bringing together everyone from amateur bakers to seasoned pastry chefs. People swap recipes, admire each other’s designs, and bond over their shared love for baking. It’s a space where creativity thrives, and the atmosphere is electric with excitement. I’ve always believed that food, especially dessert, has a unique power to connect people—don’t you think a slice of cake can spark a conversation with just about anyone?
- Variety of flavors: Attendees sample everything from classic vanilla to exotic mango-lime creations.
- Creative inspiration: Bakers showcase innovative designs, sparking ideas for others.
- Sense of belonging: The events unite people who share a passion for baking, regardless of skill level.
Scaling a Sweet Dream
From that first San Francisco gathering, the event snowballed. By 2025, the festival had toured major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and even London, with one event boasting over 1,300 cakes. Social media played a huge role—after one particularly massive gathering, the event’s Instagram following skyrocketed from 20,000 to over 100,000 overnight. “It was wild,” the founder recalls. “I couldn’t believe how many people wanted to be part of this.”
Each event requires meticulous planning, from securing venues to coordinating volunteers. The founder, still a full-time tech worker, juggles her passion project during evenings and weekends. “It’s a labor of love,” she says, “but when you’re surrounded by cakes and smiling faces, it’s worth every late night.” Her partner and a network of volunteers across the U.S. help bring each event to life, teaching her valuable lessons in delegation and leadership.
| Event Location | Number of Cakes | Attendees |
| San Francisco (2024) | 183 | 300+ |
| San Francisco (2025) | 1,387 | Thousands |
| London (2025) | 400+ | Hundreds |
The Joy of Sharing
At its core, the festival is about more than just eating cake—it’s about joy. Attendees describe the events as a celebration of creativity and happiness. “You’re surrounded by people who choose to spend their day baking and sharing,” the founder says. “It’s like a big, happy family reunion, but with better desserts.” People travel from across the globe—Malaysia, South Africa, Spain—just to join the fun, proving that cake is a universal language.
I can’t help but think there’s something deeply human about gathering over food. Whether it’s a holiday dinner or a casual picnic, sharing a meal creates bonds that transcend differences. The festival taps into that primal urge to connect, making it a perfect fit for couples, friends, or even solo adventurers looking to meet like-minded dessert lovers.
Food brings people together, but cake? Cake makes them stay.
– Baking enthusiast
Balancing Passion and Profession
Running a global event while holding down a demanding tech job isn’t easy, but the founder makes it work. She spends a few hours each week on logistics, with time ramping up before events. “It’s like planning a wedding every few months,” she jokes. Yet, she has no plans to turn her passion project into a full-time gig. “I love my day job,” she says, noting that her work in community-building at a tech giant complements the skills she uses for the festival.
Keeping the project part-time ensures it remains a source of joy rather than stress. “If it became my full-time job, I’d be worrying about scaling and profits instead of enjoying the cakes and the people,” she explains. This balance is a reminder that sometimes, the best passions are the ones you nurture on the side, free from the pressure of turning them into a hustle.
- Prioritize joy: Keep the project fun by focusing on the experience, not just growth.
- Lean on a team: Volunteers and collaborators make large-scale events possible.
- Set boundaries: Balance passion projects with professional and personal life.
The Global Cake Movement
The festival’s growth shows no signs of slowing. Tickets for a recent Los Angeles event sold out in seconds, leaving an 11,000-person waitlist. From Minneapolis to New York, the events continue to draw crowds eager to share their creations. The founder dreams of expanding globally while keeping the events affordable, with tickets standardized at around $30 to cover costs and support the baking community.
What’s next for this sweet phenomenon? The founder hopes to build a team to manage events worldwide while staying true to the original vision: a celebration of cake and connection. “It’s humbling to see how many people choose to spend their time with us,” she says. “In a world full of distractions, that’s a gift.”
The story of this cake festival is a testament to the power of following your passion, no matter how small it seems at first. What starts in your kitchen can end up uniting thousands across the globe. So, next time you’re whipping up a batch of cookies or frosting a cake, ask yourself: could this be the start of something bigger? Maybe your own version of a cake picnic is just waiting to happen.
