Chicago’s Largest Dinner Party, Le Dîner en Blanc, Returns on Thursday, August 17

Chicago’s Largest Dinner Party, Le Dîner en Blanc, Returns on Thursday, August 17

Chicago, June 29, 2023 – Le Dîner en Blanc-Chicago presents ‘Le retour.’ After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the elegant, pop-up urban picnic returns Thursday, August 17, 2023, at an unexpected and secret new location in the City of Chicago. 

As always, returning members will receive an invitation to purchase tickets, and new guests also have an opportunity to join the experience by registering for the waiting list at chicago.dinerenblanc.com and clicking on the register tab.

Chicago will go back to its roots with an intimate event for 2,500 guests to enjoy food, wine, conversation, dancing, and the splendor of the Windy City. Dressed entirely in white, guests descend on a landmark public space—which is revealed in real time as guests arrive—with everything they need for an elegant soirée in tow, including folding table and chairs, gourmet picnic food, fine china, silverware, and a tablecloth. Over the course of the evening, guests reunite with old friends and make new friends as well. The event offers attendees the perfect occasion to express their unique fashion and design style, elaborate and creative outfits, fantastic hats and fascinators, and decorative table settings. 

“We’re elated to return to Chicago,” said Chicago event co-host Lauren Haras. “Le Dîner en Blanc–Chicago is a unique event rooted in the traditions of the original Parisian event that celebrates and honors Chicago, its neighborhoods, and its people. We are always delighted at the lifelong friendships and bonds formed during the event and encourage members to purchase their tickets early so they don’t miss out!” 

To maintain the uniqueness of the event, every guest needs to observe certain requirements: 

• The dress code is simple. Head-to-toe in white outfits—elegance and originality are key!

• Table settings are all white. Remember, this is a green event so no disposables!

• French-influenced: only wine and Champagne are served. 

  • Per City of Chicago and state requirements guests are not allowed to bring alcohol. Guests wishing to enjoy wine or Champagne must purchase a voucher through the official e-store. 

  • Non-alcoholic beverages are welcome.

• The location is a secret. Guests meet at their selected departure point and are escorted by an event volunteer to the secret venue.

• At the end of the evening, guests are required to take all their belongings, leftovers, and garbage, leaving the secret location as pristine as they found it.
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Like all picnics, guests are to bring:

• One portable table, two white chairs, white tablecloth, and white cloth napkins.

• A three-course meal for two, proper stemware, and white dinnerware. 

  • Catered picnic baskets will be available for purchase.. Guests wishing to order a basket must do so prior to the event via the Dîner en Blanc–Chicago e-store. Baskets will be available for pick-up on-site (no on-site sales).
     

Le Dîner en Blanc–Chicago gratefully acknowledges Glunz Wines and Bodega Garzõn as the official local partners of the 2023 event. The Chicago event co-hosts are Lauren Haras, Roger Hobby, Tracey Thomas and James Wild. 

To keep up to date on event announcements, visit chicago.dinerenblanc.com and follow us on social media. 

FB: DinerEnBlanc.Chicago Twitter: ChiDinerEnBlanc IG: dinerenblancchicago

#dinerenblanc #dinerenblancchicago #debchicago2023 

For media requests, interviews or images (link here to previous years), please contact Leslie Friebert, FORGE Public Relations at [email protected]. 

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About the Hosts of Le Dîner en Blanc–Chicago

The team of Le Dîner en Blanc-Chicago held their inaugural event in August of 2012 in the South Gardens of the Art Institute of Chicago. Since then, the Hosts have sought out significant Chicago venues throughout the city including Daley Center Plaza, IIT, Pioneer Plaza, the Lincoln Park Zoo Nature Boardwalk, Federal Plaza, and Queen’s Landing along Chicago’s lakefront. Le Dîner en Blanc-Chicago hosting team includes Lauren Haras, Roger Hobby, Tracey Thomas, and James Wild,

About Le Dîner en Blanc 

Le Dîner en Blanc is so much more than an event. It’s a unique cultural movement that empowers friends of friends to gather and celebrate their shared passions for life, food, fashion, and community, year after year, with a pinch of mystery and large serving of spontaneity. Elegantly dressed all in white, guests arrive at a secret location for a chic picnic en masse. They bring their own tables, chairs, picnic baskets—all the trimmings—to sit down with friends and make new connections in one of their city’s most beautiful public spaces. The location remains secret up until the very moment of arrival. Over the course of the evening, guests from all backgrounds eat, dance, and reconnect with the finer things in life, as they appreciate the night’s magical experience. 

To this day, over 120 cities in 40 countries have joined the ever-growing and international network to celebrate gourmet cuisine, offer extraordinary entertainment, and bring together vibrant individuals and bon vivants around the world. While Dîner en Blanc International is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, every event in every city is hosted by passionate local organizers who fell in love with the original Parisian concept and wanted to bring it home and dress it up with local flair. For more info, photos, and videos of Le Dîner en Blanc events from around the world, visit dinerenblanc.com.

About Glunz 

Rooted in the integrity, experience, and innovation of over a century of family business, our mission is to be the undisputed first choice in wine & spirits distribution in the Midwest. We strive to be the leader in relationship-based exceptional service, in-depth product knowledge and technology. Our portfolio represents a focus on many family-owned, value driven, industry pillars & pioneers. glunzwines.com.

About Bodega Garzõn

Close to Uruguay’s ‘Riviera’ at Punta del Este and fishing village of José Ignacio, the Bodega Garzón winery may only have opened in 2016 but it is already spearheading the Uruguayan wine scene. Blessed with some of the world’s oldest granitic soils (dating back 2,500 million years), the estate covers 2,200 hectares with a vibrant biodiversity that includes untouched native forests and palm trees. Striking examples of the ancient rocks protrude into the underground cellars, forming part of the very architecture with the entire estate holding LEED Silver certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and built with sustainability in mind.