Exclusive: Dîner en Blanc returns to D.C. in September
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Diner en Blanc in D.C. Photo: Eric Vitale
Fancy flash mob picnic party Dîner en Blanc returns to D.C. on Saturday, September 21.
Why it matters: Love it or love to hate on it, the globetrotting fête is always hugely popular and attracts thousands dressed in their blanc best.
How it works: The all-white party, which started in Paris in the '80s, thrives on mystery. A location is revealed the day of — typically somewhere huge and photogenic, like the National Mall — and ticketholders flock to the setting with everything for a grand feast (BYO tables, chairs, oysters, decorative birds, etc.)
- Entry tickets ($52 per person) are available in phases. First, members who previously attended can sign up on July 18. Their guests and sponsors can follow on July 23. Newbies can join a "fan list" and register on July 25.
- A $14 annual membership fee is required at the time of ticket purchase.
New this year: A later, potentially cooler date. Event co-organizer Kaitlin Davis tells Axios that they're focusing on more entertainment and "the guest experience" this year with a well-known DJ and theatrical entertainers.
Zoom out: Dîner en Blanc visits roughly 80 cities worldwide and launched in D.C. in 2014.
Zoom in: To throw a uniform party for around 4,500 guests, the organization sets some guidelines.
- Everything is white (no cream, please).
- Dress and food/drink follow elegant themes (wine and Champagne only, no beer or booze).
- A penchant for sparklers and napkin-waving is indulged.
What they're saying: It's all about mingling. "You may sit next to someone you don't know when you arrive, but by the end of the night you're exchanging numbers and making plans," says Davis.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect changes in plans about the event's entertainment this year.