Candytopia is a multi-environment exhibit that will make your inner kid rejoice out of the perfect combination of colors and flavors from your favorites candies. Bring your sweet tooth for a journey like no other!
We asked our contributor, Magdalena Concha – also known as Mags – to check out what Candytopia was all about. She had a fantastic experience at a exhibit that has been attracting not only kids, but grown ups in New York!
Our Founder, Fê Paronetto, recently went to the Color Factory. Super worth going too! Both are similar, but yet so different! So, since it’s hard to pick one, just go to both!
Is there a better way to start your day than visiting a place that mixes art, candy and lots of imagination? Well, a few days back I went to check out Candytopia, aka, candy land, aka dream come true.
Candytopia is a pop-up installation that shows the vision of Hollywood Candy Queen Jackie Sorkin, Candy Master Fabricator Zac Hartog, CEO of ZH Productions, and retail veteran John Goodman.
Following a successful run in Santa Monica earlier this year, Candytopia comes for the first time to New York City to show a one-of-a-kind full sensory experience of a magic wonderland that combines colors and flavors using only sugary delights. Everything can be enjoyed through a series of interactive art installations.
Welcome to Candytopia, where colossal candyfloss constructions meld with a tantalizing taffy twistedness!
The “immersive candy-coated experiential adventure” is perfect for “anyone who’s ever dreamed of scoring a Golden Ticket or nibbling their way through Candyland.”
As a candy lover, I can guarantee you that this is as close as you can get to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and Hansel & Gretel candy house – minus the witch of course. From the moment you cross Candytopia’s fence and enter their amazing world, you want to touch and try everything in the rooms.
The best part of all … that is actually a requirement! Touch! Taste! See! Smell! Listen!
You will be able to try delicious sweet treats throughout the entire experience including gummies, chocolate, nostalgic favorites, and many sweet surprises! Just remember your Halloween manners and take only a few of them.
In addition, if you want to impress your social media followers and share your best candy-colored pictures, remember to get the QR code at the entrance of the installation. It will allow you to take pictures from the different cameras installed at the most iconic areas of the exhibit. So, pictures will be send directly to your email, don’t worry!
We won’t tell you everything you’ll see, but here is a short sneak peek to tickle your curiosity!
The experience starts with Zig Zog’s Clocks & Collectibles where the sound of clocks ticking will make you feel anxious, just like the White Rabbit of Alice in Wonderland, for being late to try all the candy that awaits.
Along the way you will also encounter a dive pool of (fake) marshmallows, a rendition of the most iconic pieces of art like the Mona Lisa and Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
Be sure to take a picture with the recreated sculpture of our Lady Liberty. In addition, you’ll find an underwater-themed room filled with jewel-toned, candy covered sea creatures. And, of course, tons of opportunities to take the best pictures and selfies covered by colorful confetti.
Furthermore, the effort put into every piece is describe through “Candy Facts”. They tell you exactly the type of candy that was used, the candy count, construction time and amount of sugar in it. Super cool!
I.e., the candy version of Warhol’s Marylyn portrait was made out of 3,800 candies including gummy bears and jelly beans, took more than 82 hours and it has 1,500kgs of sugar. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?
Sorkin won’t say what the base material is—she needs to keep some cards to herself—but some of the creations took upwards of 1,000 hours.
So, be sure to use #Candytopia on your pictures! Your picture might be posted on Candytopia’s Instagram!
Tickets:
Adults admission: $38
Kids (4-12) : $26
Tickets must be purchased online, as there are no tickets available at the door. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Hours:
Monday: 10am – 8:30pm
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday – Saturday: 10am- 8:30pm
Sunday: 11am – 8:30pm
Location: Penn Plaza, 145 West 32nd Street
Text Credit: Written by our contributor Magdalena Concha
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Joel Pitra for Candytopia and Magdalena Concha for BTSNYC
