Dîner en Blanc

I have recently attended Dîner en Blanc in Montréal and I wish to bring this awesome event to Sarnia next year as part of our Centennial celebrations and to continue on a yearly basis afterwards. Launched with just a handful of friends by François Pasquier over 25 years ago, Paris' Dîner en Blanc now assembles nearly 15,000 people each year in Paris alone. Dîner en Blanc is a non-profit organization based in Montréal that now has about 40 cities world- wide participating. At the last minute, the location is given to thousands of invitees who have been patiently waiting to learn the “Dîner en Blanc's” secret place. The event is open to any couple but due to logistics at the locations, a cap is always put on the number. The attendees arrive, dressed all in white, and conducting themselves with the greatest decorum, elegance, and etiquette, all meet for a mass “chic picnic” in an outdoor public space. Everyone sets up their folding table and chairs, white table cloth, centerpiece, candles, real china and wine glasses and lays out their dinner for the evening within 15 minutes. In Montréal this year, 5,200 attended. A choice is given to bring your own food or buy from the partnering caterer (I have one in mind). At 7:30 everyone waves their cloth napkin and the evening starts with a background of beautiful music. You have an hour and a half for dinner. At 9:00, everyone light the sparklers and pops their balloon which gives a fireworks effect. The DJ then changes the mood with the music we can dance to. The evening closes at 11:00 pm. Everyone packs up their belongings and puts their garbage in the white bag they brought and takes it all home. We leave the location as we found it. There is also entertainment such as musicians, and an opportunity to have a professional photo taken for the hat contest. Words cannot describe what I felt that evening in Montréal but enchanting and magical come close. This event truly warms your heart.

Funded by Sarnia (September 2013)