The 7th floor of The Shoppes at City of Dreams Sri Lanka came alive with colour, creativity and the irresistible joy of cake as it hosted Cake Date on 27 June, bringing together more than 200 guests for an afternoon of flavours, conversations and shared experiences.
Organized as a collaborative event between The Shoppes at City of Dreams Sri Lanka and the Cake Date team, managed by Sugar Daddy, a home based cakery. The event brought the much-loved cake picnic concept into South Asia’s first and largest fully integrated lifestyle destination, City of Dreams Sri Lanka. Centered around the simple idea of bringing, sharing and celebrating cake, Cake Date created a warm and welcoming space for bakers, cake lovers, creators and visitors to connect over beautifully crafted desserts.
The event brought together close to 55 bakers, with more than 100 cakes and desserts displayed across the venue. From indulgent chocolate creations and nostalgic bakes to tropical flavours, spiced desserts, nutty treats and playful love-inspired designs, the spread offered guests a vibrant glimpse into the creativity of Sri Lanka’s growing baking community. Each cake brought its own story, flavour and visual identity to the table, making the experience as much about personal expression as it was about taste.
Adding to the atmosphere were themed stations placed across the venue, each designed to create moments of discovery and interaction for guests. Several vendors and partners also contributed to the energy of the day. Dilmah hosted a tea cart with a curated selection of beverages and light bites, while DIM DIM, Savage Art Ink, Dose of Island, Seashore Garden and Photoboothmelk added their own distinctive elements to the experience. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the spontaneous mini tattoo station by Savage Art Ink, which quickly became a talking point among guests and added a fun, unexpected edge to the event.
Retailers at The Shoppes also played an active role in shaping the overall experience, reinforcing the destination’s position as a place where retail, lifestyle and community moments can come together naturally. Goodie bags were supported by several partners from The Shoppes, including Mimosa, Summer 67, Elegant Charms, Keten, Tofo, Face Lab, Wellness Fix, Thambili Island, Basilur Tea, Layover and Zam Gems, creating added value for guests while encouraging further exploration of the destination.
The event also celebrated creativity through special prizes judged by Ruzaina Hadgie and Aasif Faiz. Elegant Charms presented a voucher worth LKR 50,000, awarded based on the story behind the cake and how visually relevant it was to the event theme. Spa Ceylon also presented a cash prize of LKR 100,000 for a cake inspired by a Spa Ceylon product, encouraging participants to interpret brand inspiration through cake design, presentation and storytelling.
Speaking at the event, Romesh Jayawardena, Director Mall Management, The Shoppes at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, said, “Cake Date was a wonderful example of how The Shoppes can bring people together through experiences that feel fresh, social and memorable. It was encouraging to see such strong participation from bakers, retailers, partners and guests, all contributing to an event that celebrated creativity in a very authentic way. As we continue to grow our events calendar, we look forward to creating more moments that allow Colombo’s communities to gather, discover and connect.”
Cake Date follows other community-driven activities hosted at The Shoppes, including Mat to Matcha 2.0 in collaboration with Soul Theory. With upcoming experiences such as Lanka Collector Con planned for July, The Shoppes at City of Dreams Sri Lanka continues to build momentum as a vibrant lifestyle destination where retail, culture, creativity and community experiences come together.
