This week’s Saturday Sweets is about the sweetest convention to come to South Florida each year – SoFlo Cake & Candy Expo. Going on it's third year, this cake expo offers everything anyone could possibly need to be a better baker. The trade show is for home bakers and professionals alike to discover the latest in baking and decorating trends, purchase the new supplies, and even take on demos and classes taught by some of the best bakers in the country.

Melanie Richard and Natasha O’Connor, the women behind the SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo, once found it very difficult to find baking supplies in South Florida. Passionate home bakers with a sweet tooth, they decided to open Sweet Life Cake and Candy Supply to fill the void that other South Florida home bakers were coming across. Fast forward to 2015 and they launched the SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo, “After opening up Sweet Life Cake and Candy Supply, we started attending trade shows all around the country in order to be able to provide our customers with the latest tools in baking and decorating,” says Melanie Richard, co-founder of SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo.

“We realized that even though we had a store that offered the tools and supplies that home bakers and professional bakers are looking for, there was still the need for something bigger - a trade show – and that’s how we started SoFlo Cake and Candy Expo,” continued Natasha O’Connor, co-founder.

As a baker, I’ve personally attended this event every year and have found myself getting more and more excited each year. Between attending classes, learning new techniques, and buying every cake tool I can possibly fit into my kitchen – it’s been amazing watching SoFlo grow each year. Last year over 5,000 people from all over the world attended the expo. If you are even remotely interested in baking or candy making this is where you want to be next week.

SoFlo Cake & Candy Expo will be taking place next weekend from April 28th to the 30th at the Miami Airport Convention Center in the Doubletree Hotel. This year they are adding an extra day to shop and check out the vendors. Friday night will be the first ever Shop & Sip event – for $45 guests attending on this night will receive swag bags and drink tickets. This 21+ event allows shoppers to get a sneak peek and early access before even VIP ticket holders (VIP tickets are SOLD OUT) while sipping on cocktails made by some of Miami’s best bartenders.

The SoFlo girls have been putting their heart and soul into the expo and have even added a few extra fun features to the vendor hall. This year they will have an interactive photobooth that will print flipbooks for guests as soon as they step out of the booth. American Cake Decorating Magazine will be on site with an "Off With Her Head" installation made just for SoFlo. All elements will be edible, except for the tables. The chandelier will be created from gumpaste and isomalt, the flower wall will be crafted from hundreds of wafer paper flowers. The gown will be made from cake lace, flexique fabric and fondant -- with cascading gumpaste flowers and pastries. The pastries, desserts and cakes will of course be cake. Even the pictures will be edible -- hand-painted onto cookies with gilded cookie frames. There will be more than a dozen pairs of edible sugar shoes, trailing gumpaste flowers and small details. This installation is intended to be a visual feast and a little tongue in cheek too. It’s going to be gorgeous and I can’t wait to see it!

If you have any interest in baking – you belong at SoFlo Cake & Candy Expo. Tickets are available here.