Those with a sweet tooth and an eye for baking talent are in for a treat in the Fair City next month.
The popular Cake Fest Perth and Kinross is making its much-anticipated return after a Covid-imposed two-year break.
On Sunday, November 20 at Horsecross Plaza, a giant, fully edible map of Perth and Kinross will be built - and then eaten.
Teams of budding bakers will create a spectacular giant three-dimensional map featuring scores of the region’s most loved buildings and places, modelled out of Scottish edible materials.
Organiser Simon Preston has brought the successful event to Perth previously and is delighted to be coming back.
“Of course, 2020 and 2021 could not happen because of Covid,” Simon explained to the Perthshire Advertiser.
“To be honest with you, I really thought that was that. I thought we were done and even got rid of some of my equipment.
“But I got a call at the end of the summer asking if we would give it another go.
“I love doing it - it is really brilliant - and what comes out of it is so much bigger than what goes in.
“The bakers put effort in and so do I. When it comes together, it fills people with joy, wonder and makes them feel good.
“I couldn’t resist doing it another time.”
Local bakers of all abilities can take part and no experience is required. The message is to pick your building, landmark or favourite place, pop the apron on and get involved.
Already a number of well-known landmarks and locations have been snapped up, including the likes of Smeaton’s Bridge, Scone Palace and Huntingtower Castle.
Simon said: “It has been really welcome to see some of the bakers who took part in previous years coming back.
“And there are new faces as well, maybe people who have taken up baking during lockdown.
“We have a really nice mixture so far of regulars and new faces. That includes those with semi-professional baking companies, but most are families, groups of friends and colleagues who have varied baking experience.
“It’s about all sorts of people coming together and celebrating a place or building in Perth and Kinross that they love.
“In the early years, I would give people a list of suggestions to choose from.
“But I really want them to build a place they love and they choose. That is what I really love.”
The buzz and excitement of the day itself - coupled with the skill on display - makes for a special occasion not to be missed.
“The map is generally somewhere between 60 and 80 square metres,” Simon explained. “And that is all edible.
“We build the roads, rivers, railways, fields and landscape elements fairly early in the morning.
“The cakes start arriving about 11am. There are so many lovely ideas and some of them are absolute masterpieces.
“They are on display around the perimeter for an hour or two and then they are lifted onto the map.
“Once we’re all done, we carve the whole lot up and eat it. It is absolute bedlam but joyous.”
There is also a baker’s choice award for the favourite cake.
To enter the cake you would wish to bake, or for further information, email Simon at simon@preston.scot or message the Cake Fest Perth and Kinross Facebook page.
