Sweet!! The Baking Convention is in St. Cloud this Weekend

ST. CLOUD -- You can check out some sweet treats this weekend at the River's Edge Convention Center in downtown St. Cloud. The Upper Midwest Bakery Association is holding their 98th annual convention.

Executive Director Jessica Artibee says as many as 600 bakers will be in town.

She says the industry is riding a wave of popularity right now, thanks to some hot TV shows.

Some of the people that are going to be there have been featured on TV, on the Food Network.  We also have a six-hour competition that kind of seems like they're on TV.  They have to make a cake for this special couple.

Artibee says one of their sessions will highlight meeting the needs of millennial brides.

The latest trends are dessert bars and cupcakes.  Some want whole bars of donuts.  So it's not just the cake and not just the traditional thing anymore.

Another session features social marketing for bakeries.

You can view displayed contest cakes, baked foods contest entries, and the cake expo challenge. Hands-on decorating classes will also be held. You can decorate one cupcake with a $5 donation to the Upper Midwest Bakery Association’s Scholarship Fund.

The convention runs Saturday and Sunday.