On Thursday, September 14, 2023, Le Diner en Blanc returns to New York, the city that jumpstarted the international sensation, for the 11th edition. Thousands of people will come together at an iconic undisclosed location for a one-night celebration of food, wine, and friendship.
The French-inspired urban picnic has become THE culinary event of the year in the U.S. and cities around the world. Launched in France 35 years ago, the one-of-a-kind global phenomenon has become a beloved tradition across 6 continents, with each location injecting its own culture and culinary voice. More than one million people are on waiting lists worldwide, hoping to attend events that frequently sell out in a matter of days if not hours.
Every year in cities around the world, guests dressed in head-to-toe white first gather at specific rallying points. Guided by local volunteers, these groups then descend on a landmark public space, either on foot or by other organized means of transportation. They bring everything they need for an elegant soirée in tow, including gourmet picnic food, fine china, silverware, white tablecloth and folding table and chairs. The exact location remains a secret until the moment guests arrive, creating an air of mystery and excitement.
Over the course of the evening, the guests eat, converse, reconnect with friends and celebrate their city’s beauty amid live music and dancing. Many spend weeks in advance planning their menus. The event offers guests the perfect occasion to express their unique fashion and design style; the elaborate and creative outfits, fantastic hats, and decorative table settings are always a fabulous spectacle.
The iconic moment of the event is without a doubt the waving of thousands of cloth napkins to mark the beginning of the dinner. At the end of the night when time comes to say Au revoir, guests pack up their crystal, dinnerware, and tables, pick up all their litter and head into the night, leaving behind no sign of their elegant revelry.
Our guests spend weeks in advance planning their fashion, sumptuous menus and gorgeous table settings —
- The glorious fashion parade includes Marie Antoinette gowns and white powdered wigs, elaborate masks, fairy wings, silk tuxedos, enormous picture hats and headpieces.
- The elaborate table centerpieces range from a miniature carousel centerpiece with each horse carrying a white cupcake to birds in white cages and enormous candelabras.
- Guests dine on their own specially curated meals such as lobster, chilled gazpacho, beef tenderloin with horseradish cream —and then there are the desserts, including white wedding cakes.
To maintain the uniqueness of Le Diner en Blanc, every guest has its part to play and observes certain requirements such as:
- Dress code: head-to-toe in white only. Elegance and Originality are key!
- Table setting: all white!
- French-influenced event only wine and/or Champagne are served.
-
- As per New York alcohol regulations, guests cannot bring their own alcohol. Guests wishing to enjoy some wine or Champagne must reserve online through Le Diner en Blanc’s e-store. However, guests are welcome to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages.
- To ensure that the secret location is kept undisclosed until the last minute, guests meet at assigned departure locations throughout the city and are escorted by a Diner en Blanc volunteer.
- So, the event location is left as clean as when guests arrived, they are required to leave with all their belongings, leftovers, and litter.
Guests are to bring:
- A table, two white chairs, white tablecloth.
- A picnic basket comprising fine food and proper stemware and white dinnerware.
-
- A catered picnic basket option, which can be picked up on site, will be available for those who do not wish to pack their own. Guests wishing to do so must reserve online through Le Diner en Blanc’s e-store.
Location: SECRET LOCATION-To Be Disclosed Day Of Event
Date: September 14th, 2023
Tickets: $58 USD + $14 USD
The waiting list for Le Dîner en Blanc New York is open! Click here to sign up now.
