Grand Opening And Celebration of Loganville Bakery's Participation in Cupcake Wars Planned This Week

It’s a big week for Brad and Tara Tomlinson of and for local residents who are hoping for another culinary victory for Loganville.

The local bakery is set to square off against three other bakers in Season 3 of the Food Network’s reality cooking show Cupcake Wars. Sugar Kneads kicks off the new season with the first episode at 8 p.m. tonight. However, Tara Tomlinson said they are not planning any big launch party for the event.

“I’m going to be sitting at home and watching it with my family – we’re just going to have some family time,” she said.

There are 13 episodes and Sugar Kneads is the only bakery in the Atlanta area to have made it on to any of the shows and only the second one in Georgia to ever qualify. In Cupcakes Wars each week, four of what the network terms “the country’s top cupcake bakers” face off in three elimination challenges and the opportunity to showcase their cupcakes. The winner also gets to take home the $10,000 prize money. Included in the challenges is baking 1,000 cupcakes for the Kentucky Derby. The Tomlinson’s, however, cannot say whether they went on to win the challenge or not. They are under strict contractual obligations to keep the eventual outcome of Season 3 a secret until it is revealed in the relevant episode.

But the airing of Cupcake Wars is not the only big event planned for Sugar Kneads this week. The bakery is having its grand re-opening at the new location in Sizemore Plaza and issuing its own challenge in the process - a cupcake eating contest. In addition to the cupcake eating challenge, there are other carnival-type events planned. Money raised will go to support local Emergency Medical Services and the and . Tomlinson said anyone can enter the cupcake eating contest, but only 10 will be chosen to participate in the actual eating part of the contest.

“We are baking at least 100 assorted bakes goods – cakes, cookies, pies, cheesecakes, banana bread and brownies,” said Tomlinson, adding there would also be a jumping castle for the kids, clowns, cotton candy and raffles. “It is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. but we will continue as long as we have stuff to sell.”

Tomlinson said many other businesses in the area had stepped up to help by donating items to be raffled off in support of local public safety officials.