The massive dinner party Le Dîner en Blanc is returning to Dallas for a second year, giving us an excuse to wear white after Labor Day. It's been revealed that this year's date is September 30, but the location is still TBA.
That's part of the fun, actually, as guests don their fanciest white togs, load up their fine food for a posh picnic-style dinner, and await instructions on where to meet before being bussed to the secret location. Last year it was the pedestrian area of the Continental Avenue Bridge. But this year, who knows?
The 2016 announcement promises that Dallasites will “invade one of the most prestigious public locations of the city,” and that the number of guests will increase to 2,200. An estimated 1,600 people attended last year.
Registration for this year's event will happen in three stages. Phase one is for members who attended the previous year, phase two is for new members who are referred by phase one attendees, and phase three is for people who signed up on the waiting list via the official website.
“One of the best parts about buying tickets to a Dîner en Blanc event in any city is becoming a member, and with that automatically getting an invitation the following year,” explains Rachael Kissel, co-host of Diner en Blanc Dallas.
The posh picnic originated in Paris and now has dinners in 70 cities in more than 25 countries. Last year's announcement that it was coming to Dallas caused a frenzy, with the guest list filling up almost immediately.
Those who attended ate, drank, and danced long into the night, with the lit-up Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and skyline of downtown Dallas in the background. Then they disassembled their decorated tables, leaving no trace they had even been there.
“A key element of the original Parisian concept is the mystery surrounding the location of the event,” explains Dîner en Blanc Dallas co-host Karen Raehpour.
If lugging fancy food (no takeout or paper plates allowed) along with extensive decor in your white duds is too much, caterer Food Glorious Food will this year be selling meals onsite. Dancing follows, capped off by a Pyrotex fireworks show.
