A Cake Show will be held on Sunday, hosted by the Friends of Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library.
The Cake Show and competition will include professional and home baker divisions. It will serve as a celebration of the Mississippi bicentennial and include many free events to the public, including a cake decorating program, multiple drawings and opportunities to win great prizes and, of course, the event includes a couple of servings of cake.
But the main event is the competition, which has sparked interest from baking enthusiasts from across the South. Over the past couple of months, Kathy Younes, the event organizer, said she has been overwhelmed with the community’s enthusiasm for this event.
“When we announced we were hosting this event, I was so shocked by how the community stepped up with so much excitement. Everyone wanted to be a part of this fun event and contribute to our fundraisers to help the library. At first we were concerned about how everyone would respond, now we are concerned we won’t have enough chairs for everyone,” Younes said.
Because of the overwhelming response, Younes said there will be 38 competitors from different parts of south Mississippi and Louisiana, including Hammond, Hattiesburg and across the Gulf Coast.
Each cake will be categorized into one of three competitions; best wedding cake, best celebration cake and best sculpted cake.
The winner will be determined on the attractiveness of each cake, not the taste. Therefore, each cake design is made of Styrofoam. However, Paul’s Pastry will provide a secret cake after the awards are presented for everyone to enjoy.
“I urge everyone to stick around for this cake. It is going to be something you probably have never seen before,” Younes said.
The doors will open Sunday at noon so the public can view each cake, talk with the designers and bakers and possibly get some tips on how to bake and create the perfect cake of their own.
Then, at 2 p.m., the awards will be given in each category. Following the awards, a cake decorating program and prize drawing will be held from 2:30- 3:30 p.m.
Throughout the event, tickets will be on sale for a chance to win many prizes. Tickets cost $1 per ticket, $5 for 6 or $10 for 15 tickets.
The money raised from the ticket drawing will go toward the library’s budget to refurbish and create a handicapped accessible circulation desk for the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library.
After the drawings, cake and refreshments will be served until 5 p.m.