A Secret Event in the Most Obvious Place

The most hush-hush yet frou-frou dinner event you may have never heard of: Dîner en Blanc. With strict rules like seating arrangement and white attire, Dîner en Blanc may seem like something out of a movie, and that’s exactly the point. The whereabouts of the event are meant to be low-profile – that is, until hundreds of guests all dressed in white carrying picnic baskets, chairs, and tables converge at one undisclosed but very public outdoor location whereupon the event comes to life, leaving passersby in awe. This year, Chicago’s third installment of the annual event will take place on Thursday, August 21st. We don’t know where it will be, of course – participants won’t know until just hours before the dinner takes place. More than 1000 guests are expected to attend this year. Here’s the thing: the rules and restrictions are numerous.

The whole affair is painstakingly detailed and organized so that it goes off without a hitch. All attendees must wear white (seriously, even your shoes); no beer or booze allowed (except wine, for which you need a voucher purchased prior to the event); everyone must bring specific silverware, dishware, tables, and chairs; and women and men have very specific seating arrangements. You also have to be signed up to attend (this year, by August 8th). But in the end, the event itself is both visually and emotionally stunning. It’s a once-a-year occasion filled with food, elegance, dancing, music, and good (very well-dressed and coordinated) company, all set in a beautiful public location. We can’t tell you much more about what food and fare to expect, or anything else for that matter, but hey, that’s the beauty of it.

To learn more about Dîner en Blanc Chicago, click here. Not a Chicagoan? Don’t worry, there are almost 40 events worldwide, most of which take place in the U.S. Just check out the website to see where else Dîner en Blanc is holding events.