Last night, around 7pm, Dîner en Blanc organizers revealed the location for their 2017 gathering: Franklin Square.
Soon after, streams of folks dressed head to toe in white began flooding into the historic park and setting up their tables and chairs for one of the year’s poshest dinner soirees.
Organizer Natanya DiBona says Franklin Square was one of three possible locations for this year’s event. They finally decided to go with it to provide guests a location with fun, interactive elements—the carousel, mini golf and unlimited selfie potential around the fountain in the center of the park—so that they could, at least for a while, forget about all the tragic news happening around the world.
“The theme this year was based around celebrating your inner child in this urban playtime oasis,” she says. “It was the perfect way to celebrate public space and dinner as an art form, but also give guests a chance to escape for the night from everyday life.”
And escape they did. After dinner, guests took advantage of all the park's attractions—riding on the carousel and dancing to live music. There were also performances by area arts groups, like Philly Jump Girls, the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts and MadBeatz.
With 5,300 attendees, this Dîner en Blanc broke the record for being the largest one ever held in the United States. Check out some photos of the night below:
Photograph: Courtesy HughE Dillon
Guests line up next to the Constitution Center, waiting to enter Franklin Square.
Photograph: Courtesy Du Soleil Photographie
They came bearing all their own dinner supplies—tables, chairs, silverware, china—and dazzling smiles!
Photograph: Courtesy Du Soleil Photographie
Some lucky guests had tables set up around the fountain in the center of the park. Wonder if they got splashed?!
Photograph: Courtesy Du Soleil Photographie
Cheers!
Photograph: Courtesy Georgi Anastasov
The dinner party spread from the fountain on out into Franklin Square’s green space and even to the surrounding sidewalk where folks were shaded by the trees.
Photograph: Courtesy HughE Dillon
Well, somebody brought their fashion game! How do you like this light-up corset?
Photograph: Courtesy Du Soleil Photographie
These ladies brought an elaborate candelabra for their table—not to mention that awesome headpiece. Your move, everybody else.
Photograph: Courtesy Kory Aversa
Traditionally, sparklers signify the end of the meal and the start of the dance party.
Photograph: Courtesy Du Soleil Photographie
Guests couldn't get enough of that carousel.
Photograph: Courtesy Plate 3 Photography
Philly Jump Girls perform with glowing jump ropes at the end of the night.