Picture a summer picnic. Instead of blue jeans, however, you're elegantly dressed in head-to-toe white. And rather than a picnic blanket spread upon the grass, you're seated at a candlelit white table somewhere within Philadelphia city limits. You — and the thousands of fellow "picnickers" in your company — learned the precise location of your picnic mere minutes before its start. That, in a nutshell, is the concept of Dîner en Blanc, Philly's most exclusive summertime soirée.

Here's everything you need to know about Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia, other than the location of this year's picnic, of course — even we don't know that.

Who: Frenchman François Pasquier is credited for organizing the world's first-ever Dîner en Blanc. Space at his own home was tight, so Pasquier invited friends to meet for a picnic at Bois de Boulogne, a public park on the western fringe of Paris. His instructions were simple: Bring a friend, some food, and, so that everyone could easily recognize each other, wear white. His "dinner in white" has since spread to 50 cities in more than 20 countries.

What: Dîner en Blanc is a mass, impromptu picnic that takes place at "secret" locations throughout city centers. Clad in all white, guests tote their own square tables (between 28 inches and 32 inches), foldable chairs, picnic baskets, dishware and food, congregating at a predetermined central meeting place. Only then is the site of the picnic disclosed. Revelers then travel en masse to the picnic site, where —  before any corks are popped — seating is arranged in an orderly fashion.

It's a chic, fashionable affair, as well as a celebration of good friends, good food and, in many cases, good wine.

When: The worldwide event made its Philly debut in 2012, when more than 1,000 guests assembled for an alfresco meal in the shadow of the Swann Memorial Fountain. Now an annual occurrence in the City Brotherly Love, Dîner en Blanc has since popped up upon the JFK Bridge (2013) and the Avenue of the Arts (2014). Past years' picnics took place in August, with 2015's event slated for Thursday, Aug. 20. 

Where: Due to the spontaneous nature of the event, the exact location of the picnic is kept top secret until the very last minute. It's all part of the fun of this rain-or-shine fête!

How (and how much): To score an invite to Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia, guests must either 1) have an invitation code from a current "member," which is entered during online registration, or 2) join the 25,000-plus people on the event's waiting list. Only 4,300 spots are available, so luck will come in handy here. If good fortune should shine upon you, and you receive an online invite to register, the fee for the event is in the ballpark of $30, plus a $5 fee to become a member of Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia.

Why: Besides being lively and novel, Dîner en Blanc has been known to offer music, dancing, performances, and at the conclusion of every picnic, a group lighting of sparklers.

For more information about Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia, follow the links below.
philadelphia.dinerenblanc.info
www.facebook.com/DinerEnBlanc.Philadelphia
twitter.com/debphl