Cake in the Garden
About this Event
🎂🌸 CAKE IN THE GARDEN 🌸🎂
Join us for an unforgettable evening of cake, community, and creativity at the beautiful MSU Horticulture Gardens!
Created and hosted by Jessica of Not So Bland Cakes, Cake in the Garden was inspired by the viral Cake Picnic events taking place around the world. My goal was to bring that same sense of community, creativity, and cake-loving fun right here to Mid-Michigan while supporting one of our area's most beautiful destinations, the MSU Horticulture Gardens.
Featuring nearly 40 talented local bakers, Cake in the Garden is a one-of-a-kind community cake tasting event where you'll have the opportunity to admire dozens of beautiful cakes while sampling up to 8 different cake flavors throughout the evening.
Make an evening of it! Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs, relax in the gardens, browse the mobile bookstore vendor (Sis's Stores Mobile Bookstore), and (fingers crossed!) enjoy a cup of coffee from a local coffee vendor if final details come together. It's the perfect way to spend a summer evening with friends and family!
What to Expect:
🍰 Sample up to 8 slices of cake
👩🍳 Nearly 40 talented local bakers
🌸 Beautiful scenery throughout the MSU Horticulture Gardens
📚 Browse our mobile bookstore during the event
☕ We're hoping to have a local coffee vendor joining us, too!
🧺 Picnic-style seating throughout the gardens
📅 Sunday, August 16th, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 MSU Horticulture Gardens
East Lansing, Michigan
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🌷 PUBLIC ADMISSION 🌷
Public Admission: $20
Your Public Ticket Includes:
✔ Entry to the event
✔ One commemorative pizza box for collecting your cake samples
✔ Up to 8 cake samples from participating bakers
✔ Access to enjoy the beautiful MSU Horticulture Gardens during the event
✔ An unforgettable evening of cake, community, and creativity
🧺 Don't forget to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your cake throughout the beautiful gardens.
👨👩👧👦 Children are welcome! Children may attend and share cake from one paying ticket holder's pizza box. If you'd like your child to receive their own pizza box and up to 8 cake samples, please purchase a separate ticket for them.
🎟️ Only 25 public tickets are available! Once they're gone, they're gone, so don't wait!
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🍰 HOW THE TASTING WORKS
Each attendee will receive one commemorative pizza box at check-in.
To help make sure everyone has the opportunity to sample a variety of cakes, guests will be divided into groups.
Round One
When your group is called, you'll select up to 4 cake samples from participating bakers.
Round Two
After all groups have completed Round One, you'll have the opportunity to collect up to 4 additional cake samples.
Each attendee may collect up to 8 total cake samples during the event.
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🍰 ALREADY REGISTERED AS A BAKER?
Thank you for being part of Cake in the Garden! We can't wait to see what everyone creates.
Please remember:
✔ Complete your Baker Registration Form by July 3, 2026.
✔ Bring one 8-inch cake.
✔ Cakes must comply with Michigan Cottage Food Law.
✔ Cakes should arrive ready for display.
✔ Baker check-in and setup begins at 5:30 PM.
Baker Registration Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZEJqjVo03lDmmVH4aTvZDpuKPXwPHL9XMNPZ6IYqatRfBVw/viewform?usp=dialog
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⚠️ MICHIGAN COTTAGE FOOD LAW
All cakes must comply with Michigan Cottage Food Law.
Items requiring refrigeration or temperature control are NOT permitted, including:
• Cream cheese frosting
• Custard fillings
• Cheesecake
• Pastry cream
• Whipped cream frosting
• Mousse fillings
• Refrigerated fillings
• Any product requiring refrigeration for food safety
Event organizers reserve the right to refuse any cake that does not comply with Cottage Food regulations.
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⏰ EVENT DAY SCHEDULE
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
🍰 Baker Check-In & Setup
6:00 PM
🎟️ Public Check-In
Approximately 6:15 PM
🎂 Cake in the Garden Begins
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🌿 SUPPORTING THE MSU HORTICULTURE GARDENS
Cake in the Garden was created to bring local bakers and our community together for a fun, one-of-a-kind summer event.
After event expenses have been covered, any remaining proceeds will be donated to the MSU Horticulture Gardens as a thank-you for allowing us to host this event in such a beautiful location.
By attending, you're supporting local bakers, our community, and one of Mid-Michigan's most beautiful public spaces.
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📋 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Due to allergens and home kitchen preparation, allergen-free products cannot be guaranteed.
• Bakers are responsible for accurately disclosing all ingredients and allergens.
• Participants consume products at their own risk.
• No alcohol is permitted.
• Pets are not permitted, with the exception of service animals.
• Photos and video may be taken during the event and used for future event promotion.
• Event organizers reserve the right to make adjustments as needed for safety and event operations.
• Rain plan information will be shared if necessary.
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We can't wait to welcome you for an evening of beautiful gardens, delicious cake, talented local bakers, and wonderful community.
Grab a picnic blanket, invite your friends and family, and join us for one of Mid-Michigan's sweetest summer events!
🍰🌸
All ticket sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred to another attendee prior to the event. If the event is canceled by the organizers, ticket holders will receive a full refund.
Where is it happening?
USD 12.51 to USD 23.18
