The simplest cravings spark certain celebrations. Cake Picnic was started by Elisa Sunga, an amateur baker and Google UX expert, whose only wish was to enjoy cake in abundance with friends. 

The concept was straightforward: gather people, bring cakes, and share them in a park. What began as a small idea quickly became a tradition that cake lovers eagerly anticipate each year.

The first event took place in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in 2024. Elisa envisioned about 15 people sitting in a circle, each with a homemade or bakery-fresh cake to share. They would introduce themselves, tell a short story about the cake they brought, and then pass slices around. 

But word spread quickly, and that intimate gathering blossomed into a much larger public event – proof that the love of cake is widely and passionately shared.

At its core, Cake Picnic is a celebration of cake in every imaginable form. Picture tables covered with airy chiffon cakes, rich butter loaves, towering layer cakes, frosted cupcakes, honey-drizzled Russian medovik, whimsical jelly moulds, delicate meringue creations, and even modern twists that push the boundaries of baking. No two cakes are ever the same, and together they form a dazzling edible landscape.

Yet, the heart of Cake Picnic goes far beyond the cakes themselves. Every dessert carries a story: a grandmother’s cherished recipe, a creative experiment born in a home kitchen, or a favourite treat picked up from a beloved neighbourhood bakery. 

Each cake is an offering of connection, and each bite invites conversation. The result is not just a feast, but a living archive of personal histories told through sugar, flour, and butter.

Unlike bake-offs or competitions, Cake Picnic thrives on generosity rather than rivalry. There are no judges or prizes, only the joy of sharing and tasting. Attendees trade slices, swap compliments, and discover flavours they may never have encountered before. Around each cake plate, strangers become friends, bonded by the simple act of indulging in something sweet.

And then there is the sheer spectacle: to be surrounded by as many cakes as there are people is an unforgettable sight. It’s a sugar-dusted wonderland where abundance feels communal rather than excessive, and where indulgence is not only allowed but encouraged. The buttercream highs may be inevitable, but they come with laughter, joy, and a sense of belonging.

In many ways, Cake Picnic captures the universal role that cake plays in our lives. Cakes appear at birthdays, weddings, farewells, and milestones both big and small. They are symbols of joy, comfort, and celebration. To gather solely for the love of cake is to honour not just the dessert, but the way it sweetens our relationships and makes memories more vivid.

For Elisa, the dream was simple: bring people together through cake. For the growing community of attendees, Cake Picnic is now much more than that. It is proof that sometimes the sweetest traditions begin with nothing more than a craving and the willingness to share it.