Like teens rearranging their room slightly and feeling anew, the Grounds of Alexandria love a makeover. They’ve gussied up their gardens for Disney movie themes and Easter events, and now they’re getting back to basics and building the next installation around dessert. You’ll be wandering through a world of pure imagination (read: giant candy canes, neon lollipops and glowing gumdrop fairy lights) in a laneway that resembles Wonka’s chocolate factory.
While they generally serve sweets in their laneways and cafés, there will be some special treats up for grabs at the evening dessert markets that will run on August 15 and 16. Scoff fresh doughnuts with your choice of fillings, ice cream in colourful waffle cones, fizzy drinks with sherbet bombs and handfuls of sweets from the lolly cart. There’ll be a few sugary DIY adventures too, like the blueberry crêpe station (you’re turning violet, Violet!) and a hot chocolate fondue fountain where you can sprinkle your choccy with brownies, choc-chip cookies and fresh fruit (for health fiends). They’ve also promised some unnamed savoury options to cut through the toothache.
It’ll cost you $10 for a golden ticket just to ensure entry to this sugar high, so you better be in a sweet mood to make the most of it. If you’re just hankering for some sweet photo ops, the ‘Garden of Sweets’ installation will be at the Grounds until September 22.