The tenth annual Gardiner Cupcake Festival will return to Wright’s Farm Orchard this Saturday, promising “something for the whole family, including over 10,000 cupcakes to choose from.” The event is notorious for the broad variety of cupcakes on offer, introducing attendees to oddball flavor combos involving bacon or hot peppers or turmeric or whatever else is trendy this year. There are also plenty of other attractions, including live bands all day, free bouncy houses and wagon rides, cupcake-decorating for kids and wine-tasting for adults.
The organizers encourage flavor innovation by changing up the prize categories each year in the Amateur Cupcake Contest. For 2019, aspiring bakers will be asked to submit their best efforts in the categories of Best-Tasting Alcohol (Beer, Wine, Spirits or Cocktail) Inspired Cupcake, Best Frosting, Best Botanically Inspired Cupcake (Single or Multiple) or Best Farm-Themed Cupcake (Single or Multiple). Yes, multiple: Many past winners in the visual categories have been veritable cupcake dioramas more suited to a culinary arts museum display than to someone’s stomach. To register to enter, visit https://squareup.com/store/wright-orchards-llc-4.
The festival goes on from noon to 5 p.m. on May 18, kicking off at 11 a.m. with the Gardiner Cupcake Classic 5K Run through the orchards. On-site registration opens at 9:15 a.m., and you can also register in advance at https://raceroster.com/events/2019/22432/5k-gardiner-cupcake-classic-2019. The $30 race fee also entitles you to a cupcake, an apple and free admission to the festival itself.
Admission to the Gardiner Cupcake Festival costs $6 for anyone over the age of 6, which includes parking. Wright’s Farm is located at 699 Route 208 in Gardiner. The fun goes on rain or shine. To learn more, visit https://gardinercupcakefestival.com.
Gardiner Cupcake Festival
Saturday, May 18, 12-5 p.m.
$5
Wright’s Farm Orchard
699 Rte. 208, Gardiner
https://gardinercupcakefestival.com
Join the family! 
