Overview
Add bleach to your shopping list or start saving for some new white gears, posh picnic pop-up Diner en Blanc is back for another year. Born 27 years ago in Paris, the French enactment of the event now attracts around 15,000 diners annually. And while the New Zealand version is relatively new, with this year's celebration being the third after two former successful occasions, the latest event welcomed a hefty 750 diners en blanc.
Renowned for exclusivity in its crowd and spontaneity in its location, diners only discover where the event will be held the day of. The inaugural DeB popped up at Wynyard Quarter and last year’s was in Britomart, so we're taking bets for this year's location.
Etiquette is as follows:
- Dress in white.
- Public transport to the disclosed location (from one of six pick-up points).
- BYO table, dinnerware and feast.
- Pick up pre-ordered drinks on arrival.
- Set up camp for the night in amongst a vast collection of white-clad picnickers.
- Dine with friends.
- Sparklers happen.
- Mingle with the rest of the whiteout crowd.
- Dance into the night.
- Pack up and head home.
Kind of like a flash mob but better, because food. You need to know someone to get an invite, so start asking around.
The next instalment of Diner en Blanc will take place on February 27 at a mystery location. Stayed tuned to the event's website for more information.