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‘Dîner en Blanc’ White Party Returns to DC in August

Image credit: Jerry Frishman

DC’s favorite white party is back. Le Dîner en Blanc returns to an as-yet-undisclosed location on August 21, 2021.

The long-standing French picnic tradition started with a group of friends directed to wear white so they would stand out in a crowd. Now, thirty-three years later, Dîner en Blanc is an event that stands out from the rest not only because attendees show up in all-white attire with all-white accoutrements, but also because its festivities are exciting, elegant, and elaborate.

Image credit: Michael Busada

After a pandemic pause, Dîner en Blanc – Washington is back, though no one knows quite where, on Saturday, August 21 from 6 – 10 p.m. This seventh local event (which will follow all recommendations of DC Government Health & Safety protocol on COVID-19) is open for registration in three stages.

Phase 1 is for members who have attended the previous year; Phase 2 is for new members who have been sponsored by Phase 1 attendees, and Phase 3 is for guests who signed up on the waiting list. To get the opportunity to be part of the experience, sign up now by visiting the official website here.

Image credit: Eric Vitale Photography

While the flash mob event has been held previously at several landmark locations including Yards Park, Carnegie Library, Henry Bacon Park, Pennsylvania Avenue, Nationals Park, and Freedom Plaza, attendees at Le Dîner en Blanc – Washington 2021 will not know the location of their event until moments before arriving.

Guests will show up in their all-white attire with their all-white tables, chairs, and table settings. For convenience, table and chair sets can be rented, and gourmet picnics will be available for purchase, but the truly ambitious create their own elaborate picnics á la française with extravagant, inventive tablescapes and over-the-top menus to match.

At the end of the evening, all of this will be packed up, and there will be no sign a major outdoor dinner party ever took place, but until then, more than 4,500 guests will participate in dining, socializing, and celebrating amid live music, entertainment, and dancing.

For those wanting to extend their revelry, YOTEL has partnered with the 2021 event to exclusively provide discounted overnight stays, and an afterparty for all guests is scheduled at Deck 11, the hotel’s new rooftop pool and lounge, immediately after the dinner.