By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com
If you love cakes — making them, eating, them, or both — check out the annual National Capital Area Cake Show. The event is a bit of everything: expo, training session, and competition, all related to cakes. The two-day event (the weekend of April 1 and 2, 2017) is a volunteer-run event “with a common goal of sharing the beauty of sugar art.”
This year’s event has three themes: Wedding Cakes Through the Centuries, April Fool’s, and Bugs. The ninth annual cake show features hundreds of elaborate cakes by decorators of all levels — from youth through masters — from all over the United States, competing in one of the largest confectionery arts competitions in the country. Highlights include:
- Celebrity cake and sugar artists who have appeared on food channels
- Wedding cakes with the latest in decorating techniques and trends
- Classes for children, beginners, and professionals, plus live demonstrations
- A Cupcake Social and tasting event for area bakers and enthusiasts
- A bake sale with treats donated by area professionals and enthusiasts
Professionals, amateurs, and junior bakers will get to enjoy competitions, while the general public can watch demos to see cake decorating pros work on their elaborate creations.
Demos include how to make a variety of decorative edible flowers, create chocolate showpieces, and take care of brushes. The more than two dozen classes include instruction on airbrushing techniques and skills for making sugar figurines, working with marzipan, creating a panoramic sugar egg, and more. You also can enter the Cupcake Challenge, where bakers of all levels of experience present their cupcakes that best represent the seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall.
The National Capital Cake Show takes place at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run in Fairfax; show hours are 10 am-5 pm on Saturday and 9 am-5 pm on Sunday. Admissions is $12 for adults (or $17 for both days), $8 for students and seniors (or $12 for both days), and free for children under age five. There are separate fees for classes and the Cupcake Challenge tastings; see the event website for details.
Leave a Reply