Three DFW residents throwing a big Parisian “White Dinner” for 1,000 this fall, but you have to register now

Remember those White Parties a few years ago, the ones where everyone pretends they’re on a sandy beach at sunset and dresses all in white? Take away the sand, the beach, the ocean sunset, add your own dinner and your own dinner table, a splash of aperol, a flash of fireworks and entertainment, and you’ll just about have “Diner en Blanc” in DFW down.

Three fans are bringing Diner en Blanc, a Parisian-style pop-up picnic characterized by its famous all-white dress code, to DFW this fall.  Local organizers Rachael Kissel, Marti Fox, and Karen Raehpour say they’ll announce the exact date in late July, but registration is already open at http://dallas.dinerenblanc.info/register.

Diner en Blanc began in Paris in 1988 as a gathering of friends for a picnic in a public space. Guests were asked to dress in all white to easily recognize one another. “Twenty-seven years later, over 10,000 Parisians participate each year,” say the DFW organizers.  “In 2009, the first ever export of Le Diner en Blanc took place in Montreal, Canada. The first American edition of Diner en Blanc took place in 2011 in New york City. In 2012, Diner en Blanc International was created to bring the Parisian secret to more cities around the world. Diner en Blanc is now being held in fifty cities in over twenty countries with 100,000 annual guests.

“We’re excited to bring a little piece of Europe to Dallas and to add Texas flair to Diner en Blanc.”

To uphold the original tradition, guests of Diner en Blanc around the world bring their own portable tables, white chairs, white table linens, tableware, and food. (Food baskets are also available to pre-purchase online.) Guests are asked to wear head-to-toe white attire.

The location remains a secret until the night of the event. Attendees will instead be given a rendezvous point when they register and purchase their tickets, says Fox.  “Part of the fun of Diner en Blanc is the mystery of the location and guessing where it will be held year after year.” Fox says the location will remain a mystery until the busses drop off the attendees. “Within minutes over a thousand ticket holders will arrive at an iconic Dallas public space with their pop-up dinner supplies for the most glamorous event of the season.

“Guests will be treated to Parisian-style street performances, local musicians, and entertainers throughout the evening. After enjoying the three-course picnic dinner they’ve either prepared or purchased, the dancing will commence. The romantic evening will end with a fireworks show.”