Eat Cupcakes for a Cause at CupcakeCampDC

Sample cupcakes and support children with cancer this weekend at CupcakeCampDC in Rosslyn.

“It’s all for charity, and eating cupcakes is an awesome way donate to a good cause,” said Nicole Oandasan, 25, of Arlington.

Saturday’s CupcakeCampDC, now in its third year, benefits the DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation. The foundation provides assistance for families with children of cancer.

“I got into it because I bake a lot of cupcakes on the side and I do a lot of charity work with the Girl Scouts,” Oandasan said. “A Girl Scout leader’s daughter died from cancer and that’s how I found out about D.C. Candlelighters.”

Oandasan had heard of cupcake camps in San Francisco and New York and thought that the event would do well here. 

The event gets amateur cupcake bakers to submit cupcakes for a tasting event. This year, at least 25 local bakers will participate.

Spectators can come and try out four different cupcakes with tasting tickets. Four tickets cost $5. With a $10 VIP ticket, spectators can try an additional two cupcakes and they will be entered into a raffle.

Bakers also have the option of getting their cupcakes scored by a panel of judges.

“The panel of judges changes every year. It will be a combination of food bloggers, Yelp people, and past attendees or fans of cupcake camp,” Oandasan said.

An award is handed out for both the best cupcake and the crowd favorite.

In addition to the cupcakes, spectators can also play board games, Wii games, and listen to a presentation on the Candlelight Foundation.

“It’s only a two-hour event so there is a lot packed in there,” Oandasan said.

The event takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at the in Rosslyn at 1911 N. Fort Myer Drive. RSVP online or visit CupcakeCampDC for more information.