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Secret Pop Up Picnic Returns To Australia -- First Stop, Brisbane

Secret Pop Up Picnic Returns To Australia -- First Stop, Brisbane
Diner en Blanc International

A very mysterious dinner party is once again gearing up to do the rounds of Australian cities, with Brisbane the next location on the map.

Established over 27 years ago, Dîner en Blanc is an exclusive dinner party (there are articles dedicated to how to source a ticket) where the guests wear white and the location of the event is only revealed at the last minute.

Since it's inception in Paris, the secret soiree has travelled the world (by the end of 2015 it will have been hosted in nearly 65 cities) and attendance continues to grow every year.

Ahead of Dîner en Blanc's Australian tour, The Huffington Post Australia talked to Brisbane event organiser Amy Grey to find out the appeal of this very posh picnic.

How did Dîner en Blanc come about?

"Dîner en Blanc first started in Paris, and was a private event for one man and his group of friends. He had the novel idea of meeting in a public place, all dressed in white so they could recognise one another, and enjoying one another's company in a 'pop-up picnic'. This idea grew and grew in popularity, and the most recent Dîner en Blanc in Paris had 25,000+ attendees. Brisbane was the first Australian city to be included in the worldwide phenomenon, and we have had the privilege of being the organisers for each year it has popped up in Brisbane."

How would you describe the event?

"It's the perfect balance between an elegant spectacle and a community picnic. Dîner en Blanc is a pop-up picnic in a secret location, so all attendees come dressed in their finest white outfits, armed with their own picnic tables and decorations, and enjoy the surprise when the location is revealed. Everyone has a part in this event, it pops up, then it disappears without a trace. An ephemeral night of community, wine, food, and music."

Dîner en Blanc, Paris.

Has it grown much in popularity over the years? If so, by how much?

"Very much so, the event itself has grown from a grassroots picnic to a worldwide phenomenon, but in Brisbane alone our waiting list has jumped from 7000 in our first year to 20,000 and growing in its fourth year!"

What is it about Dîner en Blanc that you think people are attracted to?

"It's unique -- there's nothing else quite like it. Not only in the dress code, secret location, and the nature of the pop-up picnic, but also because each year Dîner en Blanc is like watching a community be built before your very eyes. Attendees start the evening by setting up their tables among strangers, who become friends in celebration as the night progresses."

Dîner en Blanc, Washington.

What should people expect who are attending Dîner en Blanc for the first time?

"Prepare to make new friends -- everyone is seated together, you'll be setting up your table amongst all other attendees. It's a community event, and Brisbane prides itself on being an easy-going group of like-minded people. Also, prepare to dance! There will be plenty of wine, good food, and music, all through the night."

Why white?

"It's a tradition based on the small origins of Dîner en Blanc in Paris -- everyone who attended the first of the pop-up picnics were allowed to bring a friend. So that everyone knew who was who, they decided they'd identify themselves by dressing elegantly, all in white. I think this is part of what makes Dîner en Blanc so special."

Dîner en Blanc, Melbourne.

What makes Dîner en Blanc different from other events?

"The community aspect -- this event isn't just about the individual, buying their tickets and experiencing an event that is provided for them. This is about getting involved, building an experience with others, and reminding ourselves that public space is exactly that! For the public. The fact that Diner en Blanc is a brief moment in time, captured and shared with strangers who become your friends through shared experience, is why Diner en Blanc stands out as one of the most enjoyable events you can take part in around the world."

Dîner en Blanc Brisbane will be held on October 17, 2015.

Other Australian destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Coffs Harbour and Canberra.

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