The Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro is coming to Orlando's Cake Fair in October

Hold onto your spatulas, Cake Boss fans! Buddy Valastro, star of the hit TLC’s show, is joining the celebrity guest line-up at The Americas Cake Fair (Cake Fair), which makes its return to the Orange County Convention Center this October. Valastro will delight attendees during his main stage appearances on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15.

Cake Fair is the largest trade and consumer show in North and South America dedicated to cake, chocolate, sugar arts and more. The inaugural Cake Fair in 2015 became an immediate sensation among professionals and consumers, alike. This year, more than 10,000 baking professionals, industry buyers, pastry chefs, cake artists, retail bakers, hobbyists and everyday foodies from around the world are expected to attend the three-day celebration of cake, chocolate and sugar artistry, which kicks off on Friday, October 13.

Valastro is making an encore appearance after wowing the crowd in 2015. He joins a line-up of internationally-popular pastry chef and television personalities appearing during the show, including Duff Goldman, star of Food Network reality shows Ace of Cakes, Duff Till Dawn and Holiday Baking Championship; Mich Turner, whose clientele includes The Queen of England, Madonna and David Beckham; and pastry genius Ron Ben-Israel, named “the Manolo Blahnik of wedding cakes” by The New York Times.

Valastro is an accomplished fourth generation baker born into the business owned and operated by his parents. He grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey in an old-fashioned Italian family, and showed a flair for cake decorating at an early age.

At the age of 17, Valastro’s father died. Suddenly, the only son had to take on the responsibilities of the patriarch. He thrived under pressure. With the help of his family, Valastro has taken Carlo's Bakery to new heights, including expanding the bakery across the country and around the world. Growing up in a family of incredible cooks, Valastro brought his family's classic Italian recipes to the table, opening his first restaurant, Buddy V's, in the Venetian Las Vegas.

Back in Hoboken, Valastro oversees the day-to-day operations of the bakeries. That entails managing over-the-top bridezillas, dealing with unreliable suppliers and late deliveries, addressing complaints of walk-in customers, drumming up new business and keeping the peace in his family while executing hundreds of elegant cakes. Valastro has a big personality and an even bigger heart. He is the glue that keeps the family together. (See accompanying bio for more background on Valastro.)

“We are thrilled to welcome back the one and only Buddy Valastro,” said Kevin O’Reilly, founder of Satin Fine Foods and Cake Fair. “Buddy has been a tremendous ambassador for our industry, introducing millions of people around the globe to the joys of cake decorating. No doubt he’ll have some tricks up his sleeve for professionals and hobbyists, alike, attending this year’s show.”

Due to popular demand, show producers have added an extra day of hands-on classes and demonstrations on Thursday, October 12, one day prior to Cake Fair’s official opening. From the art of airbrushing to mastering chocolate modeling, all classes and demonstrations will provide instruction on the latest techniques from the world’s most knowledgeable cake decorating experts. All classes are three hours in duration and must be booked in advance online.

In addition to the featured stage presentations, the show’s jam-packed schedule will include more than 100 hands-on classes and demonstrations, cake competitions, live challenges, cake zones dedicated to kids and a delectable introduction to fondant, and a sugar arts fashion show.

Attendees can enjoy sweet savings by purchasing tickets online, and can save even more when attending the show on multiple, consecutive days. Prices start from $30 for regular, single-day adult admission with advance online purchase. Advance registration is highly recommended for hands-on classes, demonstrations and Retail Bakers Association seminars.

Cake Fair is hosted by Satin Ice, which is made by Satin Fine Foods, Inc., an industry-leading manufacturer distributing its premium range of cake decorating products to more than 60 countries worldwide. Partners and sponsors of The Americas Cake Fair include American Cake Decorating; Ateco; Cake Masters, DecoPac; Domino Sugar; Pillsbury; Retail Bakers of America; and Sterling Bank.

Stay up to date on Cake Fair event updates, special offers and exclusive contests by following the show on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@cakefair). For those who want to present their work during live challenges and competitions, registration and information about themes and rules is now available. For more information about exhibitor opportunities, exclusive, customizable sponsorship packages, visit www.cakefair.com.