To those of us who always dreamed of living inside Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory – your chance has arrived, and you won’t need a golden ticket to get in.

SUGAR REPUBLIC is the latest pop-up offering to hit Melbourne, and this interactive exhibition promises to tantalise every tastebud. Housed in an old confectionery factory that gave us candy icons like Freddo and the Cherry Ripe, visitors step through twelve rooms of sensory delights with something for the sweet tooth in all of us.

Each room celebrates some of the best that the dessert world has to offer; with themes like ‘Ice-Cream Dreams,’ and ‘Birthday Party.’ We don’t count calories in here – Sugar Republic is all about celebrating indulgence and riding that sugar high for as long as you can (until the inevitable crash!).

The exhibit’s features sound like they’ve been taken straight off your ninth birthday party wishlist – a giant birthday cake (and yes, you can jump out of it); a fairy floss swing; and a human-sized gumball machine. A huge ballpit (bubblegum pink, of course) and a climbable rainbow will take you straight back to your childhood. Sugar Republic even do parties if you want to make your sweetest dreams a reality!

The catering at Sugar Republic matches its incredible theming. Sweet treats are on offer as you make your way through the rooms – help yourself to a giant pile of sherbet lollies, or try your hand at serving up a giant soft-serve icecream – there’s no limit on sprinkles. At the end of the exhibit you can treat yourself just one last time at the grown-ups’ candy store.

Every detail has been considered to make this the ultimate sweet experience – even down to the paint! Decked in shades like Minty Green and Burnt Apricot, dessert lovers will feel right at home between the Sugar Republic walls.

There’s a distinctly Australian twist on the sweet fare – there’s a giant Bubble O’Bill sculpture that arguably should be a national landmark; and event sponsors like Arnott’s and Wizz Fizz evoke the nostalgia of a sweet Australian childhood.

For the insta-stars among us, there’s many a gram-worthy moment inside. A giant neon candy art wall is already a favourite amongst visitors (and it’s an Australian first to boot) – did you really even go if you don’t have the selfie to prove it?

Good things must come to an end however, so make sure to visit Sugar Republic at its Fitzroy location before it disappears into a cloud of fairy floss on August 17.

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