This four-month long exhibition in Santa Monica Place Mall is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. Featuring re-creations of the Mona Lisa, Van Gogh’s Starry Night and even Rodin’s The Thinker, it’s a candy wonderland that even Willy Wonka would regard in wonder. It might not be as high-brow as the Getty, but it’d be difficult to call it anything other than eye candy. The price of admission is $30 for adults, and $24 for kids, with babes under 3 allowed in for free. Here are a few things you should know before you visit.
It’s Jackie Sorkin’s Baby
Jackie Sorkin is a college dropout turned candy goddess. Maybe you’ve seen her on TLC’s Candy Queen, or maybe you’ve heard about the Tiffany & Co. boutique she created entirely out of candy for Rihanna. If you’ve seen her, you know she specializes in creating one-of-a-kind, interactive experiences for sugar fiends. We think Candytopia is her biggest and sweetest venture yet.
It Might Replace Your Lunch
It’s difficult to walk by a six-foot-long Sphinx sculpture made of 22,000 gummy bears without trying to snag a bite. Luckily, candy and cotton candy samples are distributed throughout the exhibit, and you can purchase a variety of unique and rare treats at the gift shop at the end.
It’s Delightfully Interactive
Highlights include a diving pool of fake marshmallows, a steampunk clock that lowers from the ceiling only to reveal a spread of (free!) Lindt chocolates, and an underwater themed room filled with candy-covered sea critters.
You Might See a Celeb
A-Listers like Tyra Banks, Lance Bass and Sarah Michelle Gellar have all popped by. Who could be next?
It’s Around for a Limited Time!
Candytopia Santa Monica closes on July 4th, so if you’re in town before then, you should pick up tickets as soon as possible. Sorkin plans to launch Candytopia in a number of other large cities around the U.S., but tour dates have not yet been released.
Candytopia and More
Planning a visit to Candytopia? See what else you can experience right here in Santa Monica by checking out our blog—it’s full of local recommendations!