Armed with spatulas, forks and cake carriers, hundreds of bakers gathered Sunday at Denver City Park for a Cake Exchange.

Participants were required to bring a full cake to the event. During a timed window, attendees circulated among long tables, sampling slices from hundreds of creations and filling boxes with their selections.

The offerings ranged from familiar classics — including red velvet and chocolate — to more inventive flavors such as pistachio walnut and citrus-flavored cakes.

The event was organized by Morgan Bennett, a professional baker who works on commission and collaborates with local businesses. Bennett said the idea was inspired after volunteering at a similar cake picnic in San Francisco.

“I wanted to do this on a smaller scale, but just local bakers, so that I could get to know people,” Bennett said. “When you’re a baker, you work for yourself and you’re by yourself most of the time. I wanted to meet other bakers, other creatives, and learn about their process.”

What began as a networking effort among Denver bakers quickly expanded into a much larger gathering.

“So many people love cake and want to eat cake that it turned into a community thing, which is awesome,” Bennett said.

Bennett said this was the third time they have organized the Cake Exchange, though one earlier edition spanned two days. Last year’s event drew more than 700 people over a weekend. This year, more than 550 people RSVP’d, making it the largest single-day version so far.

Unlike traditional food festivals, the Cake Exchange does not include vendors or sales. Attendees trade cakes and leave with boxes full of assorted slices — a format Bennett says helps keep the event low-pressure and inclusive.

“Everybody brings a cake and everybody gets to try other people’s cakes,” Bennett said. “Everybody’s happy.”