How Sweet It Is: The History of Candy Making in Cambridge

The Cambridge Museum of History & Culture, in collaboration with the Office of Mayor E. Denise Simmons, invites guests to the opening reception of its newest pop-up public history exhibition, How Sweet It Is: The History of Candy Making in Cambridge.

"How Sweet It Is" tells the story of Cambridge’s once-booming candy industry. Home to confectionery factories, Cambridge helped shape the nation’s sweet tooth with everything from candy bars and caramel to fine bonbons. The exhibition focuses on “Confectioners Row,” a stretch of Main Street where many candy companies once operated and where the exhibition will now be displayed. The exhibition is co-curated by Jeremy Spindler and Jeffrey Myers of Spindler Confections, and presented in collaboration with the museum’s tremendous partners, Spindler Confections & Savory Delights, BXP, Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, Cambridge Arts, the Cambridge Historical Commission, History Cambridge, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This free, family-friendly event is open to all and will feature music and light refreshments. In the event of rain, the reception will be rescheduled to Sunday, June 29, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The location is ADA accessible. Visitors to the exhibit will enjoy historic photographs, vintage packaging, company histories, and stories of the people and innovations that made Cambridge a true "Candy Land." The exhibit will be running for the month of June, 2025 (National Candy Month).