Candytopia Santa Monica - Closed

"Candytopia is an attraction in San Francisco known for its Instagram-worthy, candy-themed installations. It has extended its run due to high demand, offering new time slots during the holiday season. The venue features playful exhibits such as a candy see-saw resembling the Golden Gate Bridge, a candied Mona Lisa, and a faux-marshmallow pool." - Janelle Bitker

"Visitors to this 16,000-square-foot saccharine spectacle can tour a dozen rooms filled with highly photographable (and hypothetically edible) art, like candy “paintings” of the Mona Lisa and a dragon sculpture made from 360-pounds of gummies. Don’t lick the walls: Instead, ticket holders feast on free samples from candy brands like Lindt, Nestle, and Tootsie. Tickets cost $34 for adults, $26 for kids 4-12 (free for children 3 and under). Candytopia is sold out for days to come and on most weekends during its run, which lasts through November. The Museum of Ice Cream, a similar romp through a Willy Wonka-inspired wonderland, has renewed its run several times and is still ushering customers into its sprinkle pit across the street from Candytopia. The Santa Monica run just wrapped up and its New York City exhibition just began. The business was co-founded by Jackie Sorkin and CEO John Goodman. Zac Hartog, a Hollywood set designer and fabricator, is behind Candytopia’s eye-catching installations. Highlights include a “marshmallow” pool and a see-saw version of the Golden Gate Bridge. Each piece lists the number of candies involved in its creation, the number of hours it took to build, and its sugar content." - Caleb Pershan

"Flying pigs, leaping unicorns, and a mysterious Mona Lisa all made out of candy are what’s in store when Candytopia pops up in San Francisco this fall. The roving exhibit, made with Instagram in mind, lands at 767 Market Street near Union Square on September 6. The brainchild of Jackie Sorkin, star of TLC’s Candy Queen, Candytopia first popped up in Santa Monica earlier this year. It drew the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore, and Christina Aguilera, who all posted photos of themselves with Candytopia’s colorful installations — because that is what one does at a place like Candytopia. Wiz Khalifa posed in the giant marshmallow pit, which is, thankfully, not made of real marshmallows, so the stickiness factor is less of a concern (but, let’s be honest, still something of a concern). The exhibit stretches out over 12 rooms and, while it would be in bad form to eat the art, there are gummies, chocolates, and other pieces of candy handed out throughout." - Rachel Vigoda