MAY 17, 2025
POPE MARINE PARK
AFTER RHODY PARADE
The Final Slice
After 13 years of free cake and community celebration, the iconic Cake Picnic event is coming to a close with its 13th and final installment, Cake Picnic XIII, during the Rhododendron Festival Grand Parade in Port Townsend. Join us as we celebrate this beloved tradition with the 26,000th slice of cake served to the community.
How it started
It all started with a simple question from Danny Milholland: "How can we bring our town together after the Grand Parade?" This question led to an exciting idea for a free cake and massive dance party, followed by countless brainstorming sessions with Danny’s friends and his then-girlfriend Meredith Hotchkiss, a professional baker. In 2013, this idea became a reality when the team organized the first annual Cake Picnic.​
The tradition grew year after year, becoming a staple of community life, offering a space to connect, celebrate, and dance in the streets of Port Townsend. Even during the pandemic, the Cake Picnic team continued the tradition through a "Party in Place" campaign, delivering cake and dance parties to Jefferson County neighborhoods.
The Cake Picnic celebrates community spirit through giving, music, and dance. This free community event in Port Townsend, Washington features cake, music, and dancing. It takes place immediately following the Rhododendron Festival Grand Parade and is organized by the Production Alliance. The picnic features thousands of slices of locally-made cake, music, dancing, and performances. The event is inspired in part by the history of large community clam bakes in Port Townsend.
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Who participates
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The event is made possible by a team of bakers, musicians, and creatives
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Community members are encouraged to participate by marching in the parade and joining the picnic
When it happens
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The 13th Anniversary of Cake Picnic will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025
Cake Picnic 2020 Video by Tomoki Sage
From Float Cart to Cadillac DJ Float
What started as a simple four-wheel cart with a mobile sound system quickly transformed into the iconic 1978 El Dorado Cadillac DJ float. Over the years, the event has served over 25,000 slices of cake to the community, and this year will mark the serving of the 26,000th slice!
Add Your Memories to the
Cake Picnic Archive
Help us build a living archive of 13 years of cake, music, and joy!
If you’ve ever danced, baked, paraded, or partied with us at Cake Picnic, we’d love for you to add your photos to our official memory lane.
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Upload your pictures to our shared Google Photos album below — and if you remember the year, even better! You can also just take a look to whats been already uploaded.
Let’s preserve the magic, one slice at a time.
The Team Behind Cake Picnic
Cake Picnic wouldn't have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the entire team. Special thanks go to:
And many other volunteers, artists, performers, photographers, and community supporters. Local sponsors such as the Port Townsend Food Co-op, The PT Leader, and Jefferson Healthcare have helped make this tradition possible.
SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
MARKET
KITCHEN
